Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides are eliminated from therapeutic Factor VIII and immunoglobulin concentrates and reduced in albumin by plasma fractionation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Persistent organochlorine pollutants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides, are found in the general population and tend to accumulate in blood and tissues. Their distribution was examined in the starting plasma pools for fractionation, Cohn plasma fractions and therapeutic concentrates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In each process fraction, total protein, cholesterol and triglycerides were measured as well as organochlorine pesticides and PCB congeners. RESULTS: Organochlorine compounds were undetectable in cryoprecipitate, Cohn fraction I, Factor VIII and immunoglobulin concentrates, and reduced in albumin preparations. CONCLUSION: Cohn plasma fractionation is very efficient for removing pollutants present in the starting material. Biological processing techniques should be analysed for their capacity to eliminate/reduce persistent organochlorine pollutants from the therapeutic proteins.