Correction of hypothermic and dilutional coagulopathy with concentrates of fibrinogen and factor XIII: an in vitro study with ROTEM

BACKGROUND: Fibrinogen concentrate treatment can improve coagulation during massive traumatic bleeding. The aim of this in vitro study was to determine whether fibrinogen concentrate, or a combination of factor XIII and fibrinogen concentrates, could reverse a haemodilution-induced coagulopathy during hypothermia. METHODS: Citrated venous blood from 10 healthy volunteers was diluted in vitro by 33% with 130/0.42 hydroxyethyl starch (HES) or Ringer’s acetate (RAc). The effects of fibrinogen concentrate corresponding to 4 gram per 70 kg, or a combination of the same dose of fibrinogen with factor XIII (20 IU per kg), were measured using rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM). The blood was analysed at 33°C or 37°C with ROTEM EXTEM and FIBTEM reagents. Clotting time (CT), clot formation time (CFT), alpha angle (AA) and maximal clot formation (MCF) were recorded. RESULTS: Fibrinogen with or without factor XIII improved all ROTEM parameters in either solution irrespective of temperature, with the exception of EXTEM-AA and EXTEM-CFT in HES haemodilution. Fibrinogen increased FIBTEM-MCF more in the samples diluted with RAc than HES, particularly in presence of factor XIII. CONCLUSIONS: Fibrinogen improved in vitro haemodilution-induced coagulopathy at both 33°C and 37°C, though more efficiently after crystalloid than HES haemodilution. Factor XIII had an additional effect on FIBTEM-MCF, but only after crystalloid dilution.