Cryoprecipitates in Treatment of Congenital Fibrinogen Deficiency

A woman with massive uterine myomata and a life‐long history of bleeding episodes due to congenital fibrinogen deficiency was prepared for hysterectomy with 24 units of cryoprecipitates containing approximately 3.0 g fibrinogen. This brought her plasma fibrinogen level into the normal range and she withstood the operative procedure without need of blood transfusion. On the second postoperative day 12 more units of cryoprecipitates were given after which convalescence was uncomplicated by blood loss. By the sixth day plasma fibrinogen had returned to preinfusion levels. Subsequently, this patient showed no clinical or laboratory evidence of transfusion hepatitis. Cryoprecipitates constitute an excellent substitute for commercial pooled fibrinogen in the treatment of fibrinogen deficiency, and may carry less risk of transfusion hepatitis.