FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOLGY,
AKURE.
DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY
FUNCTIONAL BIOCHEMISTRY
(BCH 806)
BLOOD AS A SOURCE OF MEDICINAL
PREPARATION
BY
GBADAMOSI MARY OYINLOLA (BCH/23/7743)
SUBMITTED TO: LECTURER IN-CHARGE
PROF. SALAWU
OCTOBER, 2024.
INTRODUCTION
Blood is an essential biological resource, serving as the foundation for various
medicinal preparations used in modern medicine. These products, derived from
whole blood or its components, are critical in treating conditions such as anemia,
immune deficiencies, and bleeding disorders. This paper explores the preparation
of blood products and their wide-ranging applications, as well as ethical
considerations related to their collection and distribution.
Blood and its components have revolutionized medical treatments, enabling
therapies for previously untreatable conditions. Blood products, such as red blood
cells, plasma, platelets, and immunoglobulins, are indispensable in both emergency
and routine care. The development of these therapies is underpinned by advances
in blood processing, screening, and storage techniques. This paper will examine the
preparation and clinical use of blood-derived products and discuss their global
health implications (Smith, 2020).
Blood Components as Medicinal Preparations
Blood is composed of various elements, each with distinct physiological functions
and therapeutic applications.
1. Red Blood Cells (RBCs)
o Function: RBCs transport oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from
the body.
o Medical Use: RBC transfusions are widely used to treat anemia,
blood loss due to trauma, and in surgeries (Johnson, 2019).
o Preparation: RBCs are isolated from whole blood through
centrifugation and stored in solutions that prolong shelf life up to 42
days.
o Clinical Application: RBCs are vital in treating chronic anemia in
conditions like renal failure and for acute blood loss following trauma
(World Health Organization [WHO], 2018).
2. Plasma
o Function: Plasma, the liquid portion of blood, carries proteins,
hormones, and nutrients.
o Medical Use: Plasma is crucial for treating clotting disorders, as it
contains clotting factors like fibrinogen and prothrombin (Brown &
Lee, 2021).
o Preparation: Plasma is separated from whole blood and can be frozen
for up to a year as fresh frozen plasma (FFP) (Miller et al., 2019).
o Clinical Application: Plasma is used to treat liver disease, manage
massive hemorrhages, and treat conditions like disseminated
intravascular coagulation (WHO, 2018).
3. Platelets
o Function: Platelets are responsible for blood clotting and wound
healing.
o Medical Use: Platelet transfusions are used in patients with low
platelet counts, often due to chemotherapy or bone marrow disorders
(Carter, 2018).
o Preparation: Platelets are collected through apheresis or from pooled
donations, and can be stored for up to five days (Smith, 2020).
o Clinical Application: Platelets are commonly used in cancer
treatment, following bone marrow transplants, and in patients
undergoing surgery (Miller et al., 2019).
4. Cryoprecipitate
o Function: Cryoprecipitate contains concentrated clotting factors,
including fibrinogen and factor VIII.
o Medical Use: Used for patients with clotting deficiencies such as
hemophilia or during surgical procedures to prevent excessive
bleeding (Brown & Lee, 2021).
o Preparation: It is prepared by thawing fresh frozen plasma and
collecting the precipitate rich in clotting factors.
o Clinical Application: Cryoprecipitate is essential for managing
fibrinogen deficiency and other coagulation disorders (WHO, 2018).
5. Immunoglobulins (IVIG)
o Function: Immunoglobulins are antibodies that play a critical role in
the immune response.
o Medical Use: IVIG therapy is used in patients with immune
deficiencies and autoimmune disorders (Carter, 2018).
o Preparation: IVIG is derived from pooled plasma donations, which
are processed to concentrate immunoglobulins.
o Clinical Application: IVIG is used in conditions such as Guillain-
Barré syndrome and in patients with primary immunodeficiency
disorders (Johnson, 2019).
6. Albumin
o Function: Albumin maintains oncotic pressure and transports various
substances in the blood.
o Medical Use: Albumin is used to treat hypovolemia, burns, and
hypoalbuminemia (Smith, 2020).
o Preparation: Albumin is extracted from plasma and available in
sterile solution for intravenous use.
o Clinical Application: Albumin infusions are used to restore blood
volume and treat conditions like liver cirrhosis (WHO, 2018).
Production and Safety of Blood-Derived Products
The safety of blood products is paramount, as they must be free from
contamination and infectious agents.
Blood Collection: Donors are rigorously screened, and their blood is tested
for pathogens like HIV, hepatitis B, and C to prevent transfusion-transmitted
infections (Miller et al., 2019).
Processing: Blood is fractionated into its components through centrifugation
or apheresis. For products like IVIG, further purification steps are involved
to concentrate specific proteins (Brown & Lee, 2021).
Storage and Shelf Life: Red blood cells are stored at 1–6°C for up to 42
days, while plasma is stored frozen for up to one year. Platelets, on the other
hand, have a shorter shelf life of five days at room temperature (Carter,
2018).
Clinical Applications of Blood Products
Blood products are indispensable in both emergency and routine medical care.
1. Emergency Medicine: RBC and plasma transfusions are critical in treating
trauma patients with significant blood loss (Johnson, 2019).
2. Surgical Care: Blood products are regularly used during and after surgeries
to replace lost blood and support coagulation (Smith, 2020).
3. Oncology: Platelet and RBC transfusions are essential for patients
undergoing chemotherapy, which often suppresses bone marrow function
(Carter, 2018).
4. Hematology: Conditions like hemophilia, sickle cell anemia, and
thalassemia are managed with regular infusions of blood products (WHO,
2018).
5. Immunotherapy: IVIG is critical for patients with immune deficiencies or
autoimmune diseases, where it helps modulate immune response (Brown &
Lee, 2021).
Ethical and Logistical Considerations
Despite the critical importance of blood products, there are significant ethical and
logistical challenges, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Voluntary Donations: Many countries rely on voluntary blood donors to
ensure a safe and adequate supply. However, donation rates vary globally,
leading to shortages in some regions (Miller et al., 2019).
Access to Treatment: High costs associated with plasma-derived products
like IVIG can limit access, particularly in resource-poor settings (Smith,
2020). Equitable distribution of blood products is an ongoing challenge for
health systems worldwide.
Conclusion
Blood-derived medicinal products are essential tools in modern medicine,
supporting a wide range of treatments from trauma care to chronic disease
management. Continued advances in blood processing and safety measures are
crucial for ensuring that these life-saving treatments remain effective and
accessible. Addressing the ethical and logistical challenges surrounding blood
product distribution will be key to improving global health outcomes (Brown &
Lee, 2021).
References
Brown, T., & Lee, H. (2021). Advances in plasma-derived medicinal
products. Journal of Hematology, 12(3), 215-229.
Carter, J. (2018). Blood component therapy in oncology. International
Journal of Cancer Treatment, 9(2), 123-137.
Johnson, R. (2019). The role of red blood cell transfusions in anemia
management. Clinical Medicine Insights: Hematology, 11(1), 54-68.
Miller, P., Smith, A., & Roberts, D. (2019). Pathogen screening and blood
safety protocols: A global perspective. Transfusion Medicine Reviews,
33(4), 345-359.
Smith, A. (2020). Ethics and logistics in the global distribution of blood
products. Global Health Journal, 7(1), 98-115.
World Health Organization (WHO). (2018). Blood safety and availability.
Retrieved from [Link]
safety-and-availability.
