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Due to the risk of activation/inactivation of Octaplasma^®, the concomitant administration of other blood products should be avoided as much as possible, except for emergency situations. However, the product can be mixed with red blood cells and platelets.³

The difference in volume between an Octaplasma^® and FP bag however does not translate into any difference in efficacy for the approved indications.^3,23 In a study, bleed control was found to be effective for Octaplasma^®   and FFP despite lower volume infused.⁸

 The volume of plasma administered in clinical settings depends on the patients’ underlying disorder, with the volume needed being the same as that of FP for large volume exchanges and for other settings, may vary on a case-by-case basis.

 In the UK, Octaplasma^® is the preferred product for all patients with TTP. ³¹

In a study where Canadian patients were treated with Octaplasma^® for TTP, aHUS, secondary TMA, C3 glomerulonephritis and antibody-mediated transplant rejection, 80% of the 89% who were switched post allergic reaction to FFP or CSP, had stable or improved disease with Octaplasma^® with no severe allergic reactions being reported.²⁹

Octaplasma^® is approved by Health Canada to be used for complex coagulation deficiencies as in DIC, repeated large volume plasma exchange, severe hepatic failure; emergency substitution such as in hemorrhage and for rapid reversal of oral anticoagulants in case of insufficient vitamin K or impaired liver function.³

A:  Octaplasma^® is indicated for complex deficiencies of coagulation factors such as consumption coagulopathy e.g., disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) or coagulopathy due to severe hepatic failure, massive transfusion, or repeated large volume plasma exchange (especially in patients with impaired liver function). It may be used for emergency substitution therapy in coagulation factor deficiencies, when situations, e.g., hemorrhage, do not allow a precise laboratory diagnosis, or when a specific coagulation factor concentrate is not available. It is also indicated for rapid reversal of effects of oral anticoagulants when vitamin K is insufficient in emergency situations, or in patients with impaired liver function.³ These indications are like those for frozen plasma.¹⁹

 Octaplasma^® is pharmaceutically treated plasma that contains standardized clotting factor levels¹⁶ and can be used in all clinical settings where plasma usage is deemed appropriate as per the discretion of the treating physician.

In a study evaluating Octaplasma^® for large volume plasma exchange in acute TTP, the rate of citrate reactions with Octaplasma^® was 50% lower than CSP. .²²

As with frozen plasma, high infusion rates may drive citrate elevation and lower ionized plasma calcium levels, especially in patients with liver dysfunction. It is therefore recommended that the infusion rate should not exceed 0.020-0.025 mmol citrate/kg body weight/min, which equals to 1 mL Octaplasma^®/kg body weight/min.³

There is no impact on the clinical efficacy of the product.13,14 However, appropriate protection against thromboembolism should be employed when S/D treated plasma is used for large volume exchange, and patients should be monitored for thromboembolic events.³

The decrease in alpha2-antiplasmin concentration may lead to elevated fibrinolysis. Accordingly, Octaplasma^® should not be used to correct hyperfibrinolysis caused by a deficiency of the plasmin inhibitor.³

The transition, as observed in other countries, could additionally result in a decrease in overall plasma utilization with no significant difference being observed in terms of bleed control.⁸