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Transfusion and Gel Filtration Studies in von Willebrand's Disease
Author(s) -
Kernoff P. B. A.,
Rizza C. R.,
Kaelin A. C.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1974.tb00817.x
Subject(s) - cryoprecipitate , clotting factor , haemophilia , von willebrand factor , antigen , medicine , coagulopathy , blood transfusion , immunology , fresh frozen plasma , platelet , surgery
S ummary . A study has been made of the plasma levels of factor‐VIII clotting activity and factor‐VIII related antigen following transfusion in five patients with von Willebrand's disease and one patient with severe haemophilia. All of the patients were transfused with cryoprecipitate or an AHG concentrate and their plasma levels of factor‐VIII clotting activity and factor‐VIII related antigen assayed at intervals after transfusion. In the case of the patients with von Willebrand's disease there was the expected post transfusion rise of factor‐VIII activity followed by a fall of activity and then a secondary rise of activity. During this same period there was a rapid fall of the factor‐VIII related antigen from the high levels attained immediately after transfusion but at about the same time as the secondary increase of factor‐VIII clotting activity took place there was a slowing down of the rate of disappearance of factor‐VIII related antigen. Indeed in several patients there was a secondary rise of factor‐VIII related antigen which coincided with the secondary peak of factor‐VIII activity. Throughout the post‐transfusion period all plasma samples containing factor‐VIII clotting activity also contained measurable amounts of factor‐VIII related antigen. Gel filtration studies carried out on plasma obtained from the von Willebrand's patients after transfusion failed to show any small molecular weight factor VIII. The possible implications of those findings are discussed.