Replacement of coagulation factors in liver or multiple organ dysfunction

Due to the complexity of alterations in hemostasis, replacement therapy in multiple organ dysfunction is a domain for nonspecific replacement therapy by means of fresh frozen plasma. Refined methods of virus inactivation as w ell as the consequent declaration of the major components of plasma derivat ives have led to an increasing use of high-purity blood coagulation factor concentrates. Furthermore, the problem of activated factors and their inher ent thrombogenic effect is meanwhile considerably attenuated. In the future , the availability of high-purity blood coagulation factor concentrates wit h a defined amount and quality of their factor content will enable a specif ic replacement therapy in single or multiple organ dysfunction in addition to unspecific replacement therapy by fresh frozen plasma. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.