human plasma proteins at a glance
Medicine class
Plasma protein fraction and blood substitute.
Main role
Replaces multiple clotting factors or plasma during selected plasma-exchange procedures.
Administration
Given into a vein by trained healthcare professionals after thawing.
Blood-group matching
Normally matched to the recipient's ABO blood group.
What is human plasma proteins used for?
Licensed uses include:
Complex clotting-factor deficiencies, including coagulopathy associated with severe liver failure or massive transfusion.
Replacing clotting factors when a suitable specific factor concentrate is unavailable, or urgent treatment is needed before a precise laboratory diagnosis.
Rapid reversal of coumarin- or indanedione-type oral anticoagulants when prothrombin complex concentrate is unavailable, or vitamin K is insufficient because of impaired liver function or an emergency.
Potentially dangerous bleeding during fibrinolytic treatment when conventional measures have failed.
Therapeutic plasma exchange, including for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
How does human plasma proteins work?
The infusion replaces plasma proteins involved in clot formation, clot regulation and fibrinolysis. Pooled manufacturing reduces variation between donors while retaining activity comparable with average fresh-frozen plasma.
How to take human plasma proteins
This treatment is given in hospital by intravenous infusion. Staff confirm ABO compatibility, thaw and inspect the bag, and use a filtered infusion set with aseptic technique. You are observed during and after treatment for reactions.
Food and drink do not have a known effect on treatment.
After an outpatient infusion, the product information advises resting before resuming usual activities.
human plasma proteins side effects
Common or expected effects
- Hives
- Itching
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe allergic reaction causing breathing difficulty, wheeze, facial or throat swelling, low blood pressure or collapse.
- Sudden breathing difficulty or low oxygen caused by transfusion-related acute lung injury or fluid overload.
- Blood-clot symptoms such as sudden breathlessness, chest pain or painful limb swelling.
- Haemolytic transfusion reaction, which may cause fever, chills, breathlessness, rash, dark urine or unexpected bleeding.
- Low calcium related to citrate, which may cause tingling, tremor or marked weakness.
human plasma proteins in pregnancy
Controlled pregnancy safety data are unavailable. Use is reserved for situations where the clinical team considers alternatives inappropriate. The potential consequences of parvovirus B19 or hepatitis E exposure require particular consideration.
human plasma proteins while breastfeeding
Safety during breastfeeding has not been established in controlled studies. The product information recommends use only when the clinical team considers alternatives inappropriate.
human plasma proteins interactions
No medicine interactions have been identified, but important intravenous incompatibilities apply.
Calcium-containing intravenous solutions
Do not administer through the same intravenous line because clot formation may occur.
Other intravenous medicines
Do not mix in the same container because proteins may be inactivated or precipitate.
Red blood cells or platelets
They may be given compatibly only when the ABO compatibility of both preparations is respected.
Common questions about human plasma proteins
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What are human plasma proteins used for?
They replace a broad mixture of clotting proteins when several factors are deficient and may replace plasma during therapeutic plasma exchange.
Are human plasma proteins the same as fresh-frozen plasma?
They have similar clinical activity, but this product is pooled, solvent-detergent treated and more standardised than average single-donor fresh-frozen plasma.
Why must they match my blood group?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.