Fibrinogen degradation products in fresh frozen plasma. Possible contribution to immunosuppression
Donnell, C.A.; Daniel, S.J.; Ferrara, J.J.
American Surgeon 55(8): 505-507
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1348 PMID: 2764399 Document Number: 339687
Recent investigations implicate a variety of specific serum factors as immunosuppressive agents, among them variably sized fragments produced by the degradation of fibrin/fibrinogen. Random samples of fresh frozen plasma were tested for fibrinogen degradation products by a latex agglutination method. Thirty-one per cent of the units tested contained greater than 40 micrograms/ml fibrinogen degradation products, and a total of 86 per cent contained greater than 10 micrograms/ml fibrinogen degradation products. Fresh frozen plasma is often used in the treatment of critically ill trauma and surgery patients, and especially in severely burned patients, who are immunosuppressed by the nature of their injury. Since fibrinogen degradation products have been shown to have both in vitro and in vivo immunosuppressive effects, administration of fresh frozen plasma to these patients should be carefully evaluated in light of its potential ability to worsen their already compromised immune status.