Biomedical Research

Due to the fact that human albumin is expensive, for the treatment of hypoproteinemic edema in patient with poor nutrition (anorexia, vomiting, etc) there is a tendency to use fresh frozen plasma. Fresh frozen plasma and plasma from platelets concentrates help restore protein levels, but they can produce side effects due to the fact that they contain clotting factors. One of these side effects is thrombosis, including in the pulmonary blood circulation, generating pulmonary arterial hypertension. In this article we present the clinical case of a female patient with acute myelogenous leukemia, which in the complete remission state presented a severe edematous syndrome - until anasarca - for which she received transfusions with human albumin, plasma and platelet concentrates (she was in post-chemotherapy aplasia). With the increase of serum protein levels we also observed an increase of the edema, which led to further investigations and to ultrasound diagnosis of major pulmonary hypertension, together with a high peak of thrombin generation. While reducing the peak of thrombin generation, we noticed the decrease of the pulmonary blood pressure. In this article we discussed the role of plasma transfusions and other predisposing factors in the occurrence of this episode.

Author(s): Romeo-Gabriel Mih?il?, Ariela Olteanu, Ionu? Dragomir, Silviu Morar
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