Right-Sizing Use of Group A Versus AB Plasma – America’s Blood Centers Article

Article originally printed in America's Blood Centers Blood Bulletin Vol. 19, No. 2, July 2019, written by Jonathan Hughes, MD, Medical Director at Vitalant; Chris Gresens, MD, Senior Chief Medical Officer, North & West Divisions at Vitalant; The authors disclose no conflicts of interest.

Dr. Hughes and Dr. Gresens examine how the use of the more abundant Group A plasma, especially to manage rapid, acute bleeding, can ease the strain on the AB plasma supply and shrinking AB donor base. Clinical evidence increasingly supports this use of plasma with bleeding patients and is leading to a growing shift toward more frequent A plasma use nationwide, even extending beyond trauma support.

The physicians look at the evidence gathered from two major multicenter studies that support the use of group A plasma in adult trauma situations. Dr. Hughes and Dr. Gresens assert that four main arguments can be made in support of this use of plasma and its safety and efficacy.