Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Cryoprecipitate
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Cryoprecipitate is a blood product prepared from plasma. Each 15 mL unit contains about 100 U of factor VIII, 250* mg of fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, factor XIII, and fibronectin.
- NOTE: – Standards state that there has to be a minimum of 150 mg of fibrinogen per bag of cryo, however most bags have around 250 mg (the number used in many calculations).
– There has to be a minimum of 80 IU of factor VIII.
Indications for giving cryoprecipitate include:
- Haemophilia– Used for emergency back up when factor concentrates are not available.
- von Willebrands’s disease
- hypofibrinogenaemia (low fibrinogen levels), as can occur with massive transfusions
- bleeding from excessive anticoagulation– Plasma contains most of the coagulation factors, and is a much better choice when anticoagulation has to be quickly reversed.
- massive haemorrhage– RBCs and volume expanders are much better choices for this.
- disseminated intravascular coagulation
References
References
- Erber WN, Perry DJ (2006) Plasma and plasma products in the treatment of massive haemorrhage. Best Pract Res Clin Haematol 19(1):97-112. PMID 16377544
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]