Continuous infusion of FVIII and FIX concentrates: in vitro analysis of clinically relevant parameters.

A high purity factor VIII/von Willebrand Factor (FVIII/vWF) concentrate (IMMUNATE [STIM plus]) (n = 6 batches), and a high purity factor IX (FIX) concentrate (IMMUNINE [STIM plus]) (n = 7 batches), were assessed in vitro for their applicability to continuous infusion. Parameters pertinent to continuous infusion were investigated and included stability, sterility and, in the case of FIX, the generation of potentially thrombogenic components. Four stationary or transportable mini infusion pumps, equipped with polyethylene, polypropylene or polyvinylchloride plastic components were used. The concentrates were reconstituted without extra filling volume and perfused at 12.5 mL h-1 and 1 mL h-1; sampling was carried out at the start of the experiment and for up to 48 h. The FVIII procoagulant activity (FVIII:C) was assayed by amidolytic, 1-stage and 2-stage assays; vWF was examined for ristocetin cofactor activity, antigen and multimers. The FIX coagulation activity (FIX:C) was determined by a 1-stage coagulation assay; thrombogenicity potential was assessed in vivo (Wessler stasis model in rabbits) and in vitro (FIXa and nonactivated thromboplastin time). Reconstituted concentrate incubated under the same conditions served as a control. Both concentrates remained sterile throughout the testing period. The perfused and control samples remained stable, retaining over 95% of activity for FVIII:C and over 90% for FIX:C for up to 48 h. Intermittent decrease of FVIII:C or FIX:C was not observed, suggesting no adsorption of FVIII or FIX onto plastic surfaces during either short or long-term exposure. No thrombogenic components were detected in the high purity FIX concentrate. Thus, under the in vitro conditions used, FVIII/vWF and FIX were found to be suitable for administration by continuous infusion.

In vivo effect of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein on experimentally enhanced capillary permeability in guinea-pig skin.

Anesthetized guinea-pigs were intravenously injected with Evans blue. After intracutaneous injection of agonists (lys-plasminogen, histamine, platelet-activating factor, thrombin, bradykinin), the resulting wheals appeared blue in a dose-dependent manner, due to an enhanced capillary permeability, alpha 1-Acid glycoprotein, given i.v. in different doses (3.125-50 mg/kg) and at different times (30-180 min) before Evans blue administration, antagonized the effects of all agonists listed above. This was shown by a parallel shift of the agonist dose-response curves to the right. The effect was time-dependent (tmax: mainly 120 min) and dose-dependent. alpha 1-Acid glycoprotein antagonized the agonists in the following order: lys-plasminogen > histamine = platelet-activating factor > thrombin > bradykinin. As all agonist mentioned are suggested to play a major role in the shock-related increase in vascular permeability, a putatively beneficial role of alpha1-acid glycoprotein in shock is discussed.

Treatment of coumarin-induced skin necrosis with a monoclonal antibody purified protein C concentrate.

BACKGROUND AND DESIGN--Protein C is a vitamin K-dependent plasma protein that is converted to the serine protease activated protein C by the thrombin-thrombomodulin complex. Activated protein C functions as a natural anticoagulant by inactivating the cofactors of the coagulation cascade, factors Va and VIIIa. Coumarin (warfarin)-induced skin necrosis is thought to be due to a rapid elimination of protein C relative to other vitamin K-dependent factors during the initial phase of oral anticoagulation. We have used a highly purified protein C concentrate to treat a patient with acquired protein C deficiency who developed skin necrosis during the initial phase of oral anticoagulant therapy. OBSERVATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS--During protein C concentrate therapy, no further skin lesions appeared, and the healing process of necrotic areas was facilitated. Replacement therapy with protein C concentrate appears to be safe and effective as an adjunctive treatment for coumarin-induced skin necrosis.

Production and quality assurance of Lys-plasminogen steam treated.

A highly purified plasminogen concentrate, LYS-PLASMINOGEN Steam Treated, has been developed for thrombolytic therapy of arterial and venous occlusions in combination with fibrinolytic agents. In search of a highly efficient drug covering this indication, we decided to select the lys-form of plasminogen because of its higher affinity to fibrin in contrast to the glu-form. This property of lys-plasminogen also led us to expect an improved thrombolytic activity as opposed to other forms of the proenzyme. The intermediate product is manufactured from pooled human citrated plasma by ethanol fractionation after separation of coagulation factor proteins. Further processing includes specific transformation and purification steps. The final product is a freeze-dried preparation characterized by a high specific activity greater than or equal to 18.0 CU/mg protein and a content of lys-plasminogen of greater than or equal to 95%. To reduce the risk of viral infections, the plasma pool includes only plasma donations which are ALT tested and negative for HBsAg and anti-HIV. In addition the intermediate freeze-dried bulk powder is subjected to a virus inactivation procedure based on steam treatment for 10 hours under standardized product specific conditions without using special protein stabilizers. Physical parameters of steam treatment provide for a maximum virus killing effect without impairing the biological plasminogen activity or changing the molecular integrity of the product. In a preclinical test HIV was inactivated by 6 log 10 after 3 hours of steam treatment leaving a 7 hour safety margin for inactivation of more heat resistant viruses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A component of factor VIII preparations which can be separated from factor VIII activity down modulates human monocyte functions.

In this study we investigated different aspects of monocyte functions following interaction of monocytes (Mo) with therapeutic concentrations of factor VIII (F VIII) concentrate. A short (one-hour) treatment of normal Mo with F VIII concentrates led to a significant (P less than 0.001) down modulation of Fc receptors expressed in the Mo plasma membrane. This down modulation was accompanied by a decrease of Mo effector functions that was expressed by a reduced capacity of F VIII-treated Mo to release O2 radicals (40% of controls) and to kill bacteria (% killing: control Mo, 65%; F VIII-treated Mo, 24% to 51%). Further studies showed that the modulating activity was due to a contaminant present in F VIII concentrates (immune complexes or IgG aggregates). Fractionation using molecular sieving revealed that the modulatory activity was confined to a high-molecular range fraction (Mr greater than 1,270,000 daltons), while the fraction containing monomeric IgG had no effect. Further fractionation by affinity chromatography on protein A-Sepharose separated the coagulation activity (effluent) from the Mo function-modulating activity (eluate). We conclude that treatment with F VIII concentrates might contribute to an immunocompromised state in some hemophiliacs and facilitate opportunistic infections in these patients.