A High-Potency, Single-Donor Cryoprecipitate of Known Factor VIII Content Dispensed in Vials

doi:10.1059/0003-4819-106-1-35

A High-Potency, Single-Donor Cryoprecipitate of Known Factor VIII Content Dispensed in Vials

Chicago, Illinois

Abstract

Current factor VIII products expose recipients to many donors and hence to a high risk of acquiring blood-borne infections. Plasma-exchange donation of cryoprecipitate can reduce donor exposure by repeatedly obtaining large yields of factor VIII from individual donors. In this study, donor factor VIII levels were stimulated with desmopressin before donation. Mean yield per donation increased from 1399 ± 425 IU in controls to 3818 ± 1350 IU in stimulated donations (p < 0.001), and mean factor VIII concentration in the cryoprecipitate increased from 8.2 ± 3 lU/mL to 24 ± 12 lU/mL (p < 0.001). A new packaging system dispenses assayed aliquots of stimulated cryoprecipitate in plastic vials. The direct cost of production for this material is $.065 per unit. The cryoprecipitate is hemostatically active and convenient to use, and the aggregate yields from sequential donations by stimulated persons are high enough to allow long-term, single-donor support of many adults with hemophilia.

Article and Author Information

▸From the Section of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, and the Section of Hematology-Oncology, Children's Memorial Hospital; Chicago, Illinois.
Presented in part 6 May 1985, at a meeting of the American Federation of Clinical Research; published in abstract form in Clin Res 33:3491, 1985. Also presented 22 October 1985 to a meeting of the American Association of Blood Banks; published in abstract form in Transfusion 25:466, 1985.
▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Bruce C. McLeod, M.D.; Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, 1753 West Congress Parkway; Chicago, IL 60612.