American journal of clinical pathology
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Am. J. Clin. Pathol. · Jul 2006
Toward rational fresh frozen plasma transfusion: The effect of plasma transfusion on coagulation test results.
Numerous published guidelines encourage appropriate use of fresh frozen plasma (FFP). However, adherence is documented as poor. Therefore, we sought to determine the laboratory effect of FFP administration to patients with an international normalized ratio (INR) less than 1.6 (prothrombin time < 1.6 times normal). ⋯ With an observed analytic variation of 3.2%, a significant amount of change in the INR following FFP transfusion is expected at an INR of more than 1.7. Indeed, only 50% of patients with an INR of 1.7 showed a significant change in INR with FFP transfusion. Therefore, transfusion for patients not meeting current FFP guidelines does not reliably reduce the INR and exposes patients to unnecessary risk.