[Transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus by a dry heat-treated Factor VIII concentrate?]

Clinical evaluation of viral safety of coagulation factor VIII and IX concentrates

Virucidal methods to inactivate infectious agents are based on various methods of heating or chemically treating plasma concentrates of coagulation factors VIII and IX used in the treatment of hemophilia A and B. This clinical evaluation of the viral safety of such 'treated' concentrates is mainly based on the prospective study of previously untreated hemophiliacs by means of clinical and serological markers of viral infection. Although there have been a few focal episodes of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission by clotting factors, these have been traced to ineffective virucidal methods that are no longer used or to clerical errors during the manufacturing process. Viral inactivation by pasteurization, vapor heating, heating in the lyophilized state at 80 degrees C and addition of solvent/detergent definitely decreases the risk of infection with hepatitis B and C. The current screening of plasma units for antibody to hepatitis C virus prior to inclusion in pools for concentrate production should further decrease the risk of hepatitis C infection. Other viruses, such as parvovirus and the hepatitis A virus, may still cause infections because they are quite resistant to virucidal methods. On the whole, virucidal methods have greatly reduced the risk of new HIV infections and, to a lesser degree, hepatitis.

Transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 by dry-heated clotting factor concentrates. Transfusion Safety Study Group

The Transfusion Safety Study monitored susceptible persons for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infections transmitted by plasma products and blood components. Through December, 1988, 6 subjects without antibody to HIV-1 (anti-HIV-1) became seropositive after receiving dry-heated factor VIII concentrate. The preparations implicated in 3 cases were derived entirely from anti-HIV-1-screened donors. In all instances, HIV-1 infection could be explained by concentrates heated at 60 degrees C for 24-30 h. Limiting consideration to concentrates and components administered after study entry showed that 4 of the seroconversions occurred among 122 subjects given 10 million units of factor VIII concentrates. No seroconversions occurred among 84 subjects given 5 million units of factor IX concentrates, or 83 who received components from over 26,000 unpaid donations. Serologic surveillance of anti-HIV-1-negative subjects provides important information, and should be routine in the management of persons receiving clotting factor concentrates.