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Updated: May 11, 2026
Ferric Chloride-induced Canine Carotid Artery Thrombosis: A Large Animal Model of Vascular Injury
Published on: September 7, 2018
Evaluation of hemostatic activity of canine frozen plasma for transfusion by thromboelastography
R Urban1, C Guillermo Couto, M Cristina Iazbik
1Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Background:
In humans, fresh frozen plasma (FFP) loses factor V and VIII activities after 1 year. It then becomes frozen plasma (FP), and theoretically is unsuitable for use in patients with coagulopathies. These findings have not been reported for dogs.
Hypothesis:
Canine FP is hemostatically active after 5 years of storage.
Animals:
Fresh plasma (Group FsP; n = 15) and 5-year-old FP (Group FzP; n = 10) from blood bank donors.
Methods:
Group FsP and Group FzP samples were evaluated by thromboelastography (TEG), one-stage prothrombin time (OSPT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen, and antithrombin. Fresh plasma (n = 6) and a subset of Group FzP (n = 8) were evaluated for clotting factor activities (V, VIII, IX, X). A 2nd experiment using short-term storage of thawed FP under suboptimal conditions (refrigerated [4°C] or refrozen [-20°C]) by TEG was performed to simulate general practice storage capabilities.
Results:
Group FzP had shorter reaction time (P = .0007) and larger angle (P = .0004) compared with Group FsP by TEG, suggesting hypercoaguability. Factor VIII and X activities were lower in Group FzP (P = .02 and .005, respectively). Fibrinogen, OSPT, and APTT were significantly lower or longer for Group FzP than Group FsP (P < .05), but most values remained within reference intervals for dogs.
Conclusions And Clinical Importance:
Five-year-old canine FP stored at -30°C is hemostatically active and should be clinically evaluated in patients with coagulopathies. If active, the monetary savings of using older plasma will be substantial.
