A comparison of fibrinogen measurement using TEG® functional fibrinogen and Clauss in cardiac surgery patients. (6th November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Agarwal, S.; Johnson, R. I.; Shaw, M.
• Is Part Of: International journal of laboratory hematology. Volume 37:Number 4(2015:Aug.)
• Page Start: 459
• Page End: 465
• Publication Date: 2014-11-06
• Subjects: Hematology -- Periodicals; Blood -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Hematology -- Periodicals; 616.15005
• DOI: 10.1111/ijlh.12311
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-5521

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="ijlh12311-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <sec id="ijlh12311-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Introduction</title> <p>Viscoelastic methods of estimating fibrinogen measure clot formation under platelet inhibition; these methods are gaining in popularity because of their convenience and speed. The aim of this study was to compare the results of the TEG<sup>®</sup> functional fibrinogen (FF) assay with the Clauss fibrinogen method in a group of patients presenting for cardiac surgery and to assess whether they gave equivalent results.</p> </sec> <sec id="ijlh12311-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>As part of a larger study evaluation a transfusion algorithm for use in cardiac surgery, 320 paired samples of TEG<sup>®</sup> FF and Clauss fibrinogen were compared. These were taken from 160 patients undergoing cardiac surgery at two time points – prior to heparinisation and 10 min after the administration of protamine. The results of the two fibrinogen measurements were also analysed in relation to the platelet count at the time.</p> </sec> <sec id="ijlh12311-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>There was no significant correlation between the TEG<sup>®</sup> FLEV and Clauss fibrinogen at baseline (<italic>R</italic><sup>2</sup> = 0.106) or 10 min postprotamine (<italic>R</italic><sup>2</sup> = 0.025) The TEG<sup>®</sup> FF maximal amplitude and the Clauss were also found to have no significant correlation (at baseline <italic>R</italic><sup>2</sup> = 0.061), at 10 min postprotamine (<italic>R</italic><sup>2</sup> = 0.260). Bland–Altman analysis showed no significant agreement between the two methods.</p> </sec> <sec id="ijlh12311-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>The TEG<sup><bold>®</bold></sup> FF does not produce results equivalent to those of the Clauss fibrinogen regardless of platelet count.</p> </sec> </abstract>