Analysis of influencing factors of serum total protein and serum calcium content in plasma donors

Introduction

As important medicines for clinical use, blood and blood components save millions of lives each year and are included in the Model List of Essential Medicines of the World Health Organization (WHO) (Organization, 2021). Plasma-derived medicinal products (PDMPs), such as albumin, coagulation factors and immunoglobulins are prepared from human plasma. They are used to prevent and treat a variety of life-threatening diseases (Grazzini, Mannucci & Oleari, 2013). The statistical results of WHO in 2020 showed that only 56 of 171 reporting countries produced PDMPs through the fractionation of plasma, and 91 countries reported that all PDMPs were imported (Organization, 2020). The risk for PDMPs shortages, as well as increasing demand, may result in depriving patients of essential medicinal products (Tiberghien, 2021).

Source plasma (SP) is an important raw material for the production of PDMPs and is used exclusively for further manufacturing into final therapies (fractionation). Recovered plasma is collected through whole blood donation in which plasma is separated from its cellular components. Recovered plasma may be used for fractionation. Most SP (85%–90%) is collected by apheresis from donors and a small fraction (10–15%) is contributed by recovered plasma (Hartmann & Klein, 2020). In China, all SP is obtained from apheresis plasma. Donation serves the demand for plasma but there are concerns among potential donors about the impact of blood loss on physical health. Concerns about the health impact of plasma donation limit the number of plasma donations (Thorpe et al., 2020).

It is reported that donors perceive both positive and negative effects of blood donation (Teglkamp et al., 2020). The most often reported positive symptoms are: alleviated headache, feeling lighter, and less tiredness (Teglkamp et al., 2020; Hinrichs et al., 2008; Sojka & Sojka, 2003; Van DenHurk et al., 2017), and the most common negative effects are iron deficiency, vasovagal reactions and citrate-related events (Amrein et al., 2012). Most researches on adverse donor reactions focused on whole blood donation, little attention paid to adverse reactions of plasma donation (Amrein et al., 2012; Crocco et al., 2009; Almutairi et al., 2017; Hu et al., 2019; Locks et al., 2019; Newman, 2004a; Newman, 2004b; Orru et al., 2021; Prakash et al., 2020). In order to further understand the impact of plasma donation on donors and to come up with suggestions which can make voluntary plasma donation safer, we investigated the changes of serum calcium and total serum protein in different types of plasma donors. The factors that may affect the changes of serum total protein and serum calcium were also discussed.

Material and Methods

Results

As Table 2 showed, the mean level of serum calcium (2.3 ± 0.15 mmol/L) and total serum protein (67.75 ± 6.02 g/L) of all participants were in normal value range (2.20−2.65 mmol/L and 65–85 g/L). Approximately 20.55% (815/3,966) plasma donors’ serum calcium was lower than normal value range. The proportion of donors whose total serum protein level was lower than normal value range was 27.99% (1,111/3,969).

Effects of age, gender and blood type on serum calcium

As shown in Fig. 1A, serum calcium level of the 18–29 year-old group was higher than other three different age groups (2.35 ± 0.16 mmol/L vs. 2.29 ± 0.15 mmol/L vs. 2.28 ± 0.14 mmol/L vs. 2.30 ± 0.13 mmol/L; all p < 0.001). Significant difference was also noted between 40-49 and 50–60 year-old groups (2.28 ± 0.14 mmol/L vs. 2.30 ±0.13 mmol/L; p = 0.001). According with these results, the 18–29 year-old group had the lowest abnormal rate of serum calcium level (proportion of people whose serum calcium level was lower than normal value range) among the four different age groups (Table 3, 16.6% vs. 21.5% vs. 24.3% vs. 18.6%). A small and negative correlation (r = −0.137, p < 0.001) between serum calcium levels and age was found (Fig. 2A). Furthermore, there was a clear distinction between genders, where serum calcium levels were observably higher in male than in female (2.32 ± 0.15 mmol/L vs. 2.29 ± 0.14 mmol/L; p < 0.001) (Fig. 1A). And the abnormal rate of serum calcium level of male was lower than female (Table 3, 19.6% vs. 21.2%). Whereas ABO blood type showed no effect on serum calcium level (Fig. 1A).

Table 3:

The proportion of people whose detection value is lower than the normal value range in different groups.

		Serum calcium	Total serum protein
Age (years)	18–29	16.6% (131/788)	22.6% (178/789)
	30–39	21.5% (170/791)	29.2% (231/791)
	40–49	24.3% (295/1212)	30.5% (383/1254)
	50–60	18.6% (219/1175)	28.1% (319/1135)
Gender	Male	19.6% (389/1986)	28.8% (573/1989)
	Female	21.2% (426/1980)	27.2% (538/1980)
Blood type	O	21.2% (273/1286)	27.3% (352/1288)
	A	20.2% (247/1224)	27.9% (342/1225)
	B	20.3% (227/1119)	28.6% (320/1119)
	AB	20.2% (68/337)	28.8% (97/337)
Donation frequenciesa	0	14.5% (145/1000)	16.1% (161/1000)
	1–6	29.5% (291/988)	36.8% (365/991)
	7–11	20.4% (199/978)	29.5% (288/978)
	12–27	18.0% (180/1000)	29.7% (297/1000)
Regions	Sichuan	3.5% (28/799)	13.6% (109/799)
	Jiangxi	22.0% (176/799)	31.9% (255/799)
	Hubei	29.0% (231/798)	33.7% (269/798)
	Shandong	47.0% (363/772)	52.5% (407/775)
	Ningxia	2.1% (17/798)	8.9% (71/798)
BMI (kg/m2)b	<18.5	14.0% (12/86)	21.2% (18/85)
	18.5–23.9	21.3% (290/1361)	30.4% (414/1363)
	24.0–27.9	23.3% (327/1404)	29.5% (414/1406)
	≥ 28	23.2% (166/716)	28.8% (206/716)

DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14474/table-3

Notes:

BMI

Body mass index

The normal values of serum calcium and total serum protein were 2.20–2.65 mmol/L and 65–85 g/L respectively.

aNumber of donors who made a certain number of donations in the year prior to this sample collection.

bExcluding incomplete information and duplicate samples, 3,567 and 3,570 subjects were respectively available to serum calcium and total serum protein research in this study.

Effects of donation frequencies, regions and BMI on serum calcium

The level of serum calcium was significantly higher in new donors (donation frequency was 0 times) than in 1–6, 7–11 and 12–27 donation times groups (2.33 ± 0.13 mmol/L vs. 2.27 ± 0.16 mmol/L vs. 2.30 ± 0.15 mmol/L vs. 2.31 ± 0.13 mmol/L; all p < 0.01) (Fig. 3A). The new donors had lower abnormal rate of serum calcium level than other three groups (Table 2, 14.5% vs. 29.5% vs. 20.4% vs. 18.0%). In the five different regions, serum calcium level of Shandong participants was lower than other four groups (2.20 ± 0.10 mmol/L vs. 2.36 ± 0.10 mmol/L vs. 2.29 ±0.13 mmol/L vs. 2.27 ± 0.15 mmol/L vs. 2.38 ± 0.10 mmol/L; all p < 0.001) (Fig. 3A). Consistently, the abnormal rate of serum calcium level of Shandong participants was higher than other four groups (Table 3, 47.0% vs. 3.5% vs. 22.0% vs. 29.0% vs. 2.1%). In addition, serum calcium level of low BMI (≤18.4) group was higher than other three groups (2.37 ± 0.14 mmol/L vs. 2.30 ± 0.14 mmol/L vs. 2.29 ± 0.15 mmol/L vs. 2.29 ± 0.15 mmol/L; all p < 0.001) (Fig. 3A). No correlation between donation frequencies and serum calcium was found, and the correlation between BMI and serum calcium was negligible (r = −0.056, p = 0.0009) (Fig. 2C).

Discussion

SP donors provide the starting material for manufacture of PDMPs. In China, SP is collected through plasmapheresis. The donation frequency of plasmapheresis donation is higher than whole-blood donation. Detailedly, the interval between two donations shall not be less than 6 months for whole-blood donation and shall not be less than 14 days for plasma donation (Commission GOoNH, 2021; Congress CotNPs, 1997). Donor safety has been a major concern throughout plasmapheresis donation. In this study, we evaluated the influences of donation frequencies, blood type, gender, age, regions, and BMI on serum calcium and total serum protein in the Chinese plasma donation population.

Citrate was used as anticoagulant during apheresis donations to prevent coagulation and clotting in the apheresis circuit (Grau et al., 2017). As citrate is a chelator of ionized calcium, infusing sodium citrate will reduce blood level of ionized calcium (Page & Harrison, 2012). When plasma ionized calcium below 0.9 mmol/L, clinical symptoms of hypocalcemia and hypotension appeared (Monchi, 2017). It was reported that about 1% of first donations and about 0.3% of repeat donations had moderate to severe citrate effects (McLeod et al., 1998). Furthermore, acute perturbations in calcium metabolism followed apheresis donation (Amrein et al., 2012; McLeod et al., 1998; Makar et al., 2002). It is well known that serum calcium exists in three forms: ionized, protein-bound, and complexed. Among them, the normal value of ionized calcium is about half of the total serum calcium (Tinawi, 2021). Our study showed age, gender, donation frequencies, regions and BMI had influences on serum calcium level. Moreover, serum calcium level was lower than normal value range in 20.55% (815/3966) of the plasma donors, and donation frequencies, age, BMI and regions were significantly associated with a higher risk of low serum calcium level. Before discussing these associations, it must be pointed out that the serum calcium values of this study had not been adjusted to the albumin (or total protein) level by an appropriate formula, for the reason that many researchers have found the calcium detection value corrected by the formula cannot accurately reflect the calcium level, especially for people with abnormal calcium levels (Ladenson, Lewis & Boyd, 1978; Law et al., 2021; Morton, Garl & Holden, 2010; Ohbal et al., 2014; Pfitzenmeyer et al., 2007; Smith, Wilson & Schneider, 2018). Our results should be interpreted with caution.

The effects of age, sex and BMI on serum calcium levels have been extensively studied in general, healthy population (Jafari-Giv et al., 2019; Zhang et al., 2014; Jorde, Sundsfjord & Bønaa, 2001; Rudnicki et al., 1993; Endres et al., 1987; Sokoll & Dawson-Hughes, 1989; Aoki, 1975; Sangal & Beevers, 1982; Jorde, Bonaa & Sundsfjord, 1999), but few integrated reports in plasma donor population. In the present study, we have found serum calcium levels significantly associated with age. Similar results have been confirmed in general population (Jorde, Sundsfjord & Bønaa, 2001; Sokoll & Dawson-Hughes, 1989; Aoki, 1975; Sangal & Beevers, 1982). Conversely, some other studies have illustrated no differences in serum calcium levels and age (Jafari-Giv et al., 2019; Endres et al., 1987; Jorde, Bonaa & Sundsfjord, 1999). In addition, Sweegers et al. (2021) also found age was significantly associated with multiple post-donation symptoms (such as fatigue, dizziness, headache and higher energy level) in whole blood donors. Conflicting results also have been reported with respect to the effect of gender on serum calcium levels. Jafari-Giv et al. (2019) showed that the lower level of serum calcium in males than females. However, consistent with our results, Jorde, Bonaa & Sundsfjord (1999) and Zhang et al. (2014) reported that serum calcium levels are significantly higher in males than in females. Furthermore, some other studies have demonstrated no differences in serum calcium levels between male and female (Rudnicki et al., 1993; Endres et al., 1987). These discrepancies may be the results of menopausal status of female samples and hormonal disorders on Ca metabolism. BMI of subjects has been reported as another one of the influencing factors for serum calcium levels (Jafari-Giv et al., 2019; Jorde, Sundsfjord & Bønaa, 2001). Jorde, Sundsfjord & Bønaa (2001) found that there was a significant positive association between serum calcium and BMI. On the contrary, Jafari-Giv et al. (2019) reported that obese subjects had a lower level of calcium, which was similar to our results. We also found age and gender had significant influence on serum calcium levels in the groups with a BMI of 18.5–23.9 and 24.0–27.9 (Table 6), but the mechanism for this still unknown.

Plasmapheresis donation is a process that takes only plasma from the donor while the cellular components are returned. Except water, plasma contains salts, enzymes, antibodies and other proteins. Plasma proteins, such as albumin, immunoglobulins, and coagulation factors, are the main source of PDMPs. Moreover, they are closely related to the immune system and maintain intravascular colloid osmotic pressure, transportation of various metabolites, and regulation of numerous physiological functions (Chow, Fox & Gama, 2008; Malik et al., 2011; Neel, McClave & Martindale, 2011; Prajapati, Sharma & Roy, 2011). It was reported that high-intensity plasmapheresis results in depletion of serum proteins with a long plasma half-life (Amrein et al., 2012). The loss of plasma proteins are associated with hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, hypogammaglobulinemia, and so on Lundsgaard-Hansen (1980). In present study, we found the total serum protein levels of 27.99% (1,111/3,969) donors were lower than normal value range (65–85 g/L), and donation frequencies, gender, age and regions were significant determinants factors of the odds of abnormal total serum protein. Some researchers reported that the total serum protein levels of plasmapheresis donors were significantly lower than that of non-donor controls (Bechtloff et al., 2005; Tran-Mi et al., 2004), and plasma protein levels were significant different in plasmas collected with different frequencies (Laub et al., 2010), these generally accorded with our findings. Moreover, Tian et al. (2014) observed the total serum protein levels decreased with increasing age in elderly Chinese. Similar to this result, we found age was negative correlated with total serum protein levels (r = −0.120, p < 0.001) in plasma donors. Additionally, we confirmed that the total serum protein level of plasma donors also been influenced by gender and BMI. Age and gender had significant influence on serum calcium levels in the group with a BMI of 18.5–23.9 (Table 7). The mechanism for this result needs further research.

In addition, we found donors coming from Shangdong province were highly represented in abnormal calcium and protein amount groups. Shangdong is the only coastal province among the five provinces participating in this research, the different lifestyle and environmental conditions may affecting serum calcium and serum total protein levels. The reasons of this result need further study.

There were some limitations to this study. Firstly, in our study we were limited to investigate the association between six influencing factors and levels of serum calcium and total serum protein. Other influencing factors, such as menopause, circulating blood volume or ethnicity may also affect levels of serum calcium and total serum protein. Secondly, in this study, all the participants were recruited from five provinces of China, and it is unclear whether the results can be generalized and are applicable to plasma donors in other provinces in China or other countries. Future research in other locations will assess in greater detail the general applicability of our findings.

Conclusion

In summary, our study clearly suggested that donation frequency, gender, age, regions, and BMI can influence levels of serum calcium and total serum protein. In plasma donors, older age, being repeat donors, BMI was 24.0–27.9, and come from Shandong province were significantly associated with higher odds of abnormal serum calcium. Furthermore, being repeat donors, older age, being male, and come from Shandong province were significantly correlated with higher odds of abnormal total serum protein. Accordingly, in order to reduce the probability of low serum calcium and low total serum protein, more attention should be paid to the age, donation frequency and region of plasma donors. This study’s findings provide new information on Chinese plasma donors and may contribute toward improving the safety of plasma donation.

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