Comparative effectiveness of plasma prepared with amotosalen-UVA pathogen inactivation and conventional plasma for support of liver transplantation

Impact of pathogen-reduction technologies on COVID-19 convalescent plasma potency

Pathogen reduction technologies (PRT) have been recommended by many regulatory authorities to minimize the residual risk of transfusion-transmitted infections associated with COVID19 convalescent plasma. While its impact on safety and its cost-effectiveness are nowadays well proven, there is theoretical concern that PRT could impact efficacy of convalescent plasma by altering concentration and/or function of the neutralizing antibodies (nAb). We review here the evidence supporting a lack of significant detrimental effect from PRTs on nAbs.

Contemporary resuscitation of hemorrhagic shock: What will the future hold?

Resuscitation of the critically ill patient with fluid and blood products is one of the most widespread interventions in medicine. This is especially relevant for trauma patients, as hemorrhagic shock remains the most common cause of preventable death after injury. Consequently, the study of the ideal resuscitative product for patients in shock has become an area of great scientific interest and investigation. Recently, the pendulum has swung towards increased utilization of blood products for resuscitation. However, pathogens, immune reactions and the limited availability of this resource remain a challenge for clinicians. Technologic advances in pathogen reduction and innovations in blood product processing will allow us to increase the safety profile and efficacy of blood products, ultimately to the benefit of patients. The purpose of this article is to review the current state of blood product based resuscitative strategies as well as technologic advancements that may lead to safer resuscitation.

Inactivation of a broad spectrum of viruses and parasites by photochemical treatment of plasma and platelets using amotosalen and ultraviolet A light

BACKGROUND

The INTERCEPT Blood System pathogen reduction technology (PRT), which uses amotosalen and ultraviolet A light treatment (amotosalen/UV-PRT), inactivates pathogens in plasma and platelet components (PCs). This review summarizes data describing the inactivation efficacy of amotosalen/UVA-PRT for a broad spectrum of viruses and parasites.

METHODS

Twenty-five enveloped viruses, six nonenveloped viruses (NEVs), and four parasites species were evaluated for sensitivity to amotosalen/UVA-PRT. Pathogens were spiked into plasma and PC at high titers. Samples were collected before and after PRT and assessed for infectivity with cell cultures or animal models. Log reduction factors (LRFs) were defined as the difference in infectious titers before and after amotosalen/UV-PRT.

RESULTS

LRFs of ≥4.0 log were reported for 19 pathogens in plasma (range, ≥4.0 to ≥7.6), 28 pathogens in PC in platelet additive solution (PC-PAS; ≥4.1-≥7.8), and 14 pathogens in PC in 100% plasma (PC-100%; (≥4.3->8.4). Twenty-five enveloped viruses and two NEVs were sensitive to amotosalen/UV-PRT; LRF ranged from >2.9 to ≥7.6 in plasma, 2.4 or greater to greater than 6.9 in PC-PAS and >3.5 to >6.5 in PC-100%. Infectious titers for four parasites were reduced by >4.0 log in all PC and plasma (≥4.9 to >8.4).

CONCLUSION

Amotosalen/UVA-PRT demonstrated effective infectious titer reduction for a broad spectrum of viruses and parasites. This confirms the capacity of this system to reduce the risk of viral and parasitic transfusion-transmitted infections by plasma and PCs in various geographies.

Transition from fresh frozen plasma to solvent/detergent plasma in the Netherlands: comparing clinical use and transfusion reaction risks

Plasma transfusion is indicated for replenishment of coagulative proteins to stop or prevent bleeding. In 2014, the Netherlands switched from using ~300mL fresh frozen plasma (FFP) units to using 200mL Omniplasma, a solvent/detergent treated pooled plasma (SD plasma), units. We evaluated the effect of the introduction of SD plasma on clinical plasma use, associated bleeding, and transfusion reaction incidences. Using diagnostic data from six Dutch hospitals, national blood bank data, and national hemovigilance data for 2011 to 2017, we compared the plasma/red blood cell (RBC) units ratio (f) and the mean number of plasma and RBC units transfused for FFP (~300mL) and SD plasma (200mL) for various patient groups, and calculated odds ratios comparing their associated transfusion reaction risks. Analyzing 13,910 transfusion episodes, the difference (Δf = f_{SD -} f_FFP) in mean plasma/RBC ratio (f) was negligible (Δf_{entire_cohort} = 0.01 [95% confidence interval (CI): −0.02 - 0.05]; P=0.48). SD plasma was associated with fewer RBC units transfused per episode in gynecological (difference of mean number of units −1.66 [95% CI: −2.72, −0.61]) and aneurysm (−0.97 [−1.59, −0.35]) patients. SD plasma was further associated with fewer anaphylactic reactions than FFP (odds ratio 0.37 [0.18, 0.77; P<0.01]) while the differences for most transfusion reactions were not statistically significant. SD plasma units, despite being one third smaller in volume than FFP units, are not associated with a higher plasma/RBC ratio. SD plasma is associated with fewer anaphylactic reactions than FFP plasma/RBC units ratio.

Plasma for direct therapeutic use, for today and tomorrow: A short critical overview

Plasma for direct therapeutic use is a fast-evolving blood component in terms of its production and presentation. More than a dozen forms are available worldwide, which is often overlooked since most countries apply policies making only one or very few forms available for treating patients in need. It is most often reserved for the same three clinical indications, i.e. overall clotting-factor deficiency, reversal of vitamin K antagonists in the context of active bleeding or prior to urgent surgery, and therapeutic plasma exchange. The level of evidence is often less robust than generally acknowledged for such major indications while novel indications are tending to emerge in medical and trauma settings. This short review explores classical views and new prospects opened up by novel presentations and statuses for therapeutic plasma.

The role of hemovigilance and postmarketing studies when introducing innovation into transfusion medicine practice: the amotosalen-ultraviolet A pathogen reduction treatment model

BACKGROUND

Innovations in transfusion medicine require randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) to demonstrate safety and efficacy before approval; however, these studies are costly and limited in scope and may be underpowered to detect rare adverse events (AEs). Regulatory agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration, require postmarketing surveillance, hemovigilance (HV), and controlled Phase IV studies to monitor performance and confirm safety.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

The INTERCEPT Blood System (IBS) is an illustrative model for implementation of a transformative technology for which sponsored active HV, regulatory authority HV, and Phase IV studies were used to extend preapproval efficacy and safety information.

RESULTS

After CE mark registration in Europe, 13,644 patients received 76,346 IBS components prepared largely without gamma irradiation or bacterial screening in sponsored active HV studies documenting no increased incidence of AEs compared to historical controls and no increased component utilization. National HV systems in France and Switzerland specifically demonstrated no transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease or increased incidence of transfusion-associated acute lung injury, after transfusion of 317,669 IBS platelet (PLT) components, and significant reduction of transfusion-transmitted bacterial infection as well as acute transfusion reactions. Cumulatively, these studies provide new information about safety and efficacy of IBS PLT and plasma components not obtainable from RCTs.

CONCLUSION

Although inherently different from RCTs, properly designed postmarketing studies are informative regarding the safety and efficacy of innovative transfusion technologies in large patient populations under conditions of routine use.

Hemostatic properties and protein expression profile of therapeutic apheresis plasma treated with amotosalen and ultraviolet A for pathogen inactivation

BACKGROUND

The INTERCEPT Blood System (IBS) using amotosalen-HCl and ultraviolet (UV)A inactivates a large spectrum of microbial pathogens and white blood cells in therapeutic plasma. Our aim was to evaluate to what extent IBS modifies the capacity of plasma to generate thrombin and induces qualitative or quantitative modifications of plasma proteins.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Plasma units from four donors were collected by apheresis. Samples were taken before (control [CTRL]) and after IBS treatment and stored at -80°C until use. The activities of plasma coagulation factors and inhibitors and the thrombin generation potential were determined using assays measuring clotting times and the calibrated automated thrombogram (CAT), respectively. The proteomic profile of plasma proteins was examined using a two-dimensional differential in-gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) method.

RESULTS

Nearly all of the procoagulant and antithrombotic factors tested retained at least 78% of their initial pre-IBS activity. Only FVII and FVIII displayed a lower level of conservation (67%), which nevertheless remained within the reference range for conventional plasma coagulation factors. The thrombin generation profile of plasma was conserved after IBS treatment. Among the 1331 protein spots revealed by 2D-DIGE analysis, only four were differentially expressed in IBS plasma compared to CTRL plasma and two were identified by mass spectrometric analysis as transthyretin and apolipoprotein A1.

CONCLUSION

The IBS technique for plasma moderately decreases the activities of plasma coagulation factors and antithrombotic proteins, with no impact on the thrombin generation potential of plasma and very limited modifications of the proteomic profile.