Fibrinogen in Liver Transplant

Fibrinogen in Liver Transplant Subjects (FITS)

Fibrinogen is an important factor for hemostasis and when it is deficient or dysfunctional replacing it will improve hemostasis and reduce bleeding. Observational data indicates the use of cryoprecipitate as a source of fibrinogen may reduce bleeding and improve outcomes in patients with severe bleeding. Liver transplant patients often become hypofibrinogenemic and may benefit from early goal directed use of cryoprecipitate or IFC. IFC can be more readily available since it can be stored at room temperature compared to cryoprecipitate which requires thawing. As a result, IFC can be immediately available when indicated compared to the delay in administration of cryoprecipitate due to the need for it to be thawed. This trial will compare clinical outcomes for subjects randomized to either cryoprecipitate or IFC in bleeding liver transplant patients with reduced fibrinogen function.

There is no data comparing outcomes for subjects receiving IFC or cryoprecipitate in any patient population.

The rationale for this trial is to compare IFC to cryoprecipitate (cryo) to assist with the design of a future definitive multicenter trial. Potential advantages of IFC are that since it is stored at room temperature it can be made immediately available whereas with cryo the delay in treatment can be 30 to 40 min due to the need to thaw it from a frozen state. The reduced time to treatment of bleeding may improve outcomes with the use of IFC compared to cryo. In vitro data indicates similar hemostatic function between IFC and Cryo. IFC is pathogen reduced cryoprecipitate. The pathogen reduction methods are licensed for IFC and there has been no safety concerns regarding its use at the centers that are currently using it as their standard product (unpublished).

Inclusion Criteria:

* 18 years of age or older
* Scheduled to undergo cadaveric liver transplant
* Meets at least one of the following criteria: Baseline fibrinogen \<200 mg/dL or clinically significant visoelastic testing
* Meets any one of the following criteria: Alcoholic cirrhosis, Metabolic dysfunction associated steatohepatitis (MASH) (previously known as Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)), HCV infection

Exclusion Criteria:

* Living related donor transplant,
* Known prothrombotic disorder,
* Patient objection to blood transfusion,
* Known severe allergic reaction to plasma-based products,
* IgA deficiency with known hypersensitivity reaction to plasma,
* Hepatocellular/cholangio carcinoma,
* Primary biliary fibrosis
* Active bleeding prior to the operation

INTERCEPT Fibrinogen Complex is a pathogen-reduced cryoprecipitated fibrinogen complex derived from human plasma. It contains fibrinogen, Factor XIII, and von Willebrand factor to achieve stable clot formation and restore hemostasis. Recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, it is used for the treatment of bleeding associated with fibrinogen deficiency.

Cryoprecipitate Antihemophilic Factor (AHF), also known as cryo, is a frozen blood product prepared from blood plasma. It is used for fibrinogen supplementation, particularly for hypofibrinogenemia fibrinogen, anemia associated with bleeding or congenital deficiency.

AHF is the standard of care fibrinogen product often used in liver transplant cases. The procedures to use AHF include requesting the order of this product and then waiting for the product to be thawed for use, which can take approximately 10-15 minutes. Subjects assigned to this group will receive all standard of care procedures, including the use of AHF if required during their scheduled surgery.

IFC is an approved fibrinogen product that is not typically stored in the OR for liver transplant cases. Subjects assigned to this group will receive standard of care procedures, with the addition of IFC being readily available in their designated OR to eliminate any delay if they are to require the use of a fibrinogen product.