Impact of therapeutic plasma exchange on intact protein S, apolipoproteins, and thrombin generation

Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), with solvent/detergent (S/D)-treated plasma as replacement fluid, is an extracorporeal blood purification technique with major impact on both coagulation and lipids. Our previous in vitro study showed that S/D-plasma enhances thrombin generation by lowering intact protein S (PS) levels.

To evaluate the impact of altered lipid balance on coagulation phenotype during heparin-anticoagulated TPE with S/D-plasma, and to investigate whether the lowered intact PS levels with concomitant procoagulant phenotype, are recapitulated in vivo.

Coagulation biomarkers, thrombin generation with Calibrated Automated Thrombogram (CAT), and lipid levels were measured before and after the consecutive 1st, 3rd and 5th episodes of TPE performed to six patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome or myasthenia gravis. The effects of in vitro dilution of S/D-plasma on thrombin generation were explored with CAT to mimic TPE.

Patients did not have coagulation disorders, except elevated FVIII. Intact PS, lipoproteins, especially LDL, Apolipoprotein CIII (ApoC3) and ApoB/ApoA1 ratio declined (p < 0.05). In contrast, VLDL and triglyceride levels stayed intact. CAT lag time shortened (p < 0.05). In vitro dilution of S/D plasma with co-transfused Ringer's lactate and 4% albumin partially reduced its procoagulant phenotype in CAT, which is mainly seen as peak thrombin, and modestly shortened lag time.

After the five settings of TPE using S/D-plasma in vivo, which associated with heparinization and reduced coagulation factor activities, our observations of declining natural anticoagulant intact PS and apolipoproteins refer to rebalance of the hemostatic and lipid profiles.