Background: Reduced levels of protein S (PS) and alpha(2)-antiplasmin (alph
a(2)-AP) in solvent/detergent virus-inactivated plasma (S/D-VIP) might indu
ce an imbalance of plasma coagulation factors and inhibitors in patients tr
ansfused. We investigated 40 patients (23 fresh frozen plasma (FFP), 17 S/D
-VIP, random distribution by a list calculated by statisticians) who suffer
ed from dilution coagulopathy, river disease, disseminated intravascular co
agulation (DIC), polytrauma or were connected to extracorporeal circulation
. Study Design and Methods: The following markers of activated coagulation
(MAC) were measured: Prothrombin fragment F1+2 (F1+2), fibrin monomers (FM)
, D-dimers (DD), thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) and plasmin-antiplasmin (PAP)
complexes as well as fibrinogen degradation products (FgDP), and additional
ly antithrombin III (antithrombin), protein C (PC), PS and alpha(2)-AP. Bro
od was taken only just before and 1 h after the first plasma replacement (2
units). No additional blood products were transfused before the second bro
od withdrawal. Pre- and posttransfusion (pre/post) values of all parameters
measured were compared within the same group and between both groups. Stat
istical evaluation of the data was done by Wilcoxon's paired test for data
in the same plasma group and by the test of Mann and Whitney for data compa
rison between both plasma groups. Results: Average pretransfusion values of
all inhibitors for both plasma groups were in the same range and increased
after transfusion, except for PS in both groups. Whereas the pre/post valu
es did not differ significantly in the FFP group, antithrombin (p = 0.02),
PC (p = 0.0005), and alpha(2)-AP (p = 0.02) showed a significantly higher i
ncrease in the S/D-VIP group. Considering the pre/post differences between
both plasma groups, there were no significant differences. The same was tru
e for MAC measured pre- and posttransfusion. Conclusion: Data showed no sig
nificant difference between both plasma groups, indicating that S/D-VIP pla
sma behaves as FFP under the study conditions employed.