Characteristics of a heat treated antihaemophilic cryoprecipitate

In order to evaluate the influence of heat treatment (68 degrees C for 24 or 72 hours) on the essential components of antihaemophilic cryoprecipitate, i.e. factor VIII coagulant activity (VIII:C), von Willebrand factor (VIIIR:Ag and VIIIR:RCF) and fibrinogen, ordinary lyophilized cryoprecipitate was compared to heat treated, aminoacid-enriched specimens. The median reduction in factors VIII:C, VIIIR:Ag, VIIIR:RCF and fibrinogen during lyophilization of ordinary cryoprecipitate was 26 per cent, 11 per cent, 1 per cent and 8.5 per cent, respectively. Heat treatment of such cryoprecipitate resulted in 85 to 98.5 per cent reduction in these parameters, while the reduction following lyophilization and heat treatment (24 hours) of aminoacid-containing preparations was not significantly different from non-heated, ordinary cryoprecipitate. Following heating of aminoacid-enriched cryoprecipitate for 72 hours, only factor VIIIR:RCF was significantly reduced (32.5 per cent) compared to non-heated samples. Ordinary cryoprecipitate was almost insoluble following heat treatment. Enrichment with aminoacids, however, made the heat treated cryoprecipitate fully soluble, but the content of these vials were slightly slower in dissolving than non-heated preparations. Ultracentrifugation prior to lyophilization and heating did not improve the solubility. If heat treatment proves to be efficient in inactivating viral agents, we conclude that heated (68 degrees C for 24 hours), aminoacid-enriched cryoprecipitate may be a convenient product for treating haemophilia A, von Willebrand's disease and hypofibrinogenemia.