fresh frozen plasma

fresh frozen plasma

n. Abbr. FFP

Blood plasma frozen within 6 hours of collection.

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fresh frozen plasma

Etymology: ME, fresen, to be cold; Gk, plassein, to mold

an unconcentrated form of blood plasma containing all of the clotting factors except platelets. It can be used to supplement red blood cells when whole blood is not available for exchange transfusion or to correct a bleeding problem of unknown cause. It is also used to correct disseminated intravascular coagulation. See also plasma.

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plasma [plaz´mah]

1. the fluid portion of the lymph.

2. the fluid portion of the blood, in which the formed elements (blood cells) are suspended. Plasma is to be distinguished from serum, which is plasma from which the fibrinogen has been separated in the process of clotting. Called also blood plasma. adj., adj plasmat´ic, plas´mic.

Of the total volume of blood, 55 per cent is made up of plasma. It is a clear, straw-colored liquid, 92 per cent water, in which are contained plasma proteins, inorganic salts, nutrients, gases, waste materials from the cells, and various hormones, secretions, and enzymes. These substances are transported to or from the tissues of the body by the plasma.

Plasma obtained from blood donors is given to persons suffering from loss of blood or from shock to help maintain adequate blood pressure. Since plasma can be dried and stored in bottles, it can be transported almost anywhere, ready for immediate use after addition of the appropriate fluid. Plasma can be given to anyone, regardless of blood type. (See also transfusion.)

Plasma volume is sometimes measured in order to calculate the total blood volume. The most common method for determining plasma volume is by injection of a dye (T-1824, called Evans blue) into the circulating blood and, after the dye has been dispersed throughout the body, using the dilution of the dye to calculate the total blood volume.

antihemophilic human plasma normal human plasma that has been processed promptly to preserve the antihemophilic properties of the original blood; used for temporary correction of bleeding tendency in hemophilia.

blood plasma plasma (def. 2).

citrated plasma blood plasma treated with sodium citrate, which prevents clotting.

plasma exchange the removal of plasma from withdrawn blood (plasmapheresis) and retransfusion of the formed elements and type-specific fresh frozen plasma into the donor; done for removal of circulating antibodies or abnormal plasma components.

fresh frozen plasma plasma separated from whole blood and frozen within 8 hours; it contains all the coagulation factors.

plasma thromboplastin antecedent deficiency hemophilia C.

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fresh frozen plasma

Therapeutics A blood component, separated from whole blood which provides 80-120 mg of fibrinogen and ≥ 80 units each of factors VIII and XIII Indications PT > 16 secs, acute liver decompensation, massive hemorrhage, transfusions where > 10 units of packed RBCs cause coagulation factor depletion; FFP is administered pre-operatively in Pts with coagulopathies–eg hemophilia B, in therapeutic apheresis, DIC, ITP, TTP, HDN