A clotting-factor (factor I) replacement given by injection
Fibrinogen concentrate
A clotting-protein replacement, given by injection, used to stop or prevent bleeding in people who lack fibrinogen.
What is Fibrinogen concentrate?
Fibrinogen concentrate is a specialist medicine used to replace fibrinogen, a clotting protein also called factor I, in people who are born without enough of it or who have used it up during heavy bleeding, surgery or childbirth. It is given as an injection into a vein and helps blood form a stable clot. Because it is usually made from human blood plasma, it carries the general precautions of a blood product, and because it boosts clotting it can, rarely, raise the risk of an unwanted clot. Like any injected protein, it can occasionally cause an allergic reaction, so it is given under medical supervision.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Fibrinogen concentrate — it deliberately contains no doses. Doses depend on the person, the brand and the reason for treatment, and belong with your prescriber. Always check the BNF, the product labelling (SmPC) and follow medical advice.
What it is
Fibrinogen concentrate is a purified preparation of fibrinogen, the clotting protein your body needs to form the final mesh that holds a blood clot together; it is also known as clotting factor I. It is used in people who have an inherited shortage of fibrinogen, or who have lost it during major bleeding, trauma, surgery or childbirth. It is given as an injection into a vein, usually in hospital or under a specialist haematology service. Most preparations are made from carefully screened and treated human blood plasma, which is why it is described as a plasma-derived product.
How it works
When a blood vessel is injured, the body builds a clot in stages, and fibrinogen is the protein that is converted into fibrin, the tough threads that knit a clot together so it is stable. If fibrinogen is missing or has been used up, clots are weak and bleeding is hard to control. Fibrinogen concentrate tops up the level of this protein directly in the bloodstream, restoring the body's ability to form a firm clot. It works quickly once given into a vein, which is why it is used to treat active bleeding or to cover surgery and childbirth in people known to be short of fibrinogen.
Company & origin
Originated / developed by: Specialist manufacturers.
A specialist plasma-derived medicine used in the UK to replace fibrinogen, the clotting protein known as factor I, in people who are missing it or have lost it and are bleeding.
Practical use
How to take Fibrinogen concentrate
General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.
- It is given as an injection into a vein by a healthcare professional, usually in hospital or a specialist setting.
- It is used to treat active bleeding or to cover surgery or childbirth in people known to lack fibrinogen.
- Tell the team straight away about any itching, rash, swelling or breathlessness during or after the injection.
- Report any leg swelling, chest pain or sudden breathlessness, as these can be signs of an unwanted clot.
- Carry any information you are given about your bleeding condition so future teams know you may need it.
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages of Fibrinogen concentrate
Advantages
- Quickly replaces the missing clotting protein to help stop or prevent serious bleeding.
- Useful for inherited fibrinogen shortage and for bleeding during surgery, trauma or childbirth.
- Comes as a measured product that can be given into a vein when bleeding needs urgent control.
Disadvantages
- Usually a plasma-derived blood product, so the general precautions of blood products apply.
- Because it boosts clotting, it can rarely raise the risk of an unwanted clot.
- Has to be given into a vein under medical supervision rather than taken at home.
Practical use
Good to know
The most important things to understand are that fibrinogen concentrate is a clotting-protein replacement given into a vein, and that it is usually a plasma-derived product made from human blood. Although donated plasma is carefully screened and treated to reduce infection risk, the general precautions of any blood product still apply, and the batch details are recorded so any product can be traced. Because the medicine boosts clotting, there is a small risk of an unwanted clot, such as in a vein or artery, so it is used at the dose needed and people are watched for signs like leg swelling, chest pain or breathlessness. As with any injected protein, an allergic reaction can occasionally happen, so it is given where this can be managed. It is a hospital or specialist treatment, used for specific bleeding situations rather than something taken at home day to day.
Who should not take it / use with caution
- People who have had a serious allergic reaction to fibrinogen concentrate should not be given it.
- It is used with extra care in people at high risk of unwanted clots, weighing the need to control bleeding.
- It should only be given under medical supervision, with the bleeding situation assessed by the team.
Monitoring
- Checking fibrinogen levels and how well bleeding is controlled around the time it is given.
- Watching for allergic reactions during and after the injection.
- Watching for signs of unwanted clots, especially in people already at higher risk.
Side effects
- Allergic-type reactions such as rash, itching or, rarely, more serious reactions during or after the injection.
- Rarely, an unwanted blood clot, such as in a vein or artery.
- Fever or headache in some people; as with any blood product, an infection risk is very low but not zero.
Key interactions
- It is used carefully alongside other medicines that affect clotting, so tell the team about all of them.
- Its use is coordinated with any other clotting-factor or blood products being given.
- There are few routine medicine interactions, but a full medicines list helps the team manage your care safely.
Available as: A powder made up into a solution for injection into a vein.
Answers
Fibrinogen concentrate: frequently asked questions
What is fibrinogen concentrate used for?
It replaces fibrinogen, the clotting protein called factor I, in people who lack it from birth or have lost it during bleeding, surgery or childbirth, helping the blood form a stable clot.
Is it made from blood?
Most preparations are made from carefully screened and treated human blood plasma, so it is a plasma-derived product and the general precautions of blood products apply.
Can it cause a clot?
Because it boosts clotting, there is a small risk of an unwanted clot, so it is used at the dose needed and you are watched for signs such as leg swelling or chest pain.
How is it given?
It is given as an injection into a vein by a healthcare professional, usually in hospital or under a specialist haematology service.
Is it safe in pregnancy and childbirth?
It is sometimes used to cover childbirth in women known to lack fibrinogen; this is decided and supervised by the specialist team.
Authoritative sources
- BNF
- NICE CKS
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