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Convalescent Blood Products in COVID-19: A Narrative Review
Keegan Chua Vi Long1, Abida Sayed2, Priyanka Karki3
1School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
Insights
Convalescent blood products (CBP), including convalescent plasma (CP), show potential for treating COVID-19. However, current evidence lacks rigor, necessitating further randomized clinical trials for definitive answers.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
- Public Health
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted global public health systems.
- Urgent need for effective treatments against SARS-CoV-2.
- Convalescent blood products (CBP) were explored during previous coronavirus outbreaks (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the clinical utility and evidence for CBP in managing COVID-19.
- To assess the potential of convalescent plasma (CP) and immunoglobulins as adjunctive COVID-19 therapies.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of existing literature on CBP for COVID-19.
- Analysis of anecdotal studies and preliminary clinical data.
- Consideration of historical data from SARS and MERS epidemics.
Main Results:
- Some anecdotal studies suggest promising therapeutic potential for CBP in COVID-19.
- Many current studies lack the academic rigor required for conclusive evidence.
- CBP has been previously investigated for SARS and MERS.
Conclusions:
- While promising, current evidence for CBP in COVID-19 is not robust.
- Compassionate use of CBP may be considered for critically ill patients.
- Randomized clinical trials are essential to confirm the efficacy and safety of CBP for COVID-19.
Abstract:
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has left the world in a state of desolation with overburdening public health systems in a short period. Finding possible preventative and therapeutic measures to counter severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19, has been the priority. A possible solution is convalescent blood products (CBP), primarily convalescent plasma (CP) and immunoglobulins, as an adjunctive therapy. CBP has been tried on the previous coronavirus epidemics with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Therefore, we reviewed the clinical utility of CBP and available evidence in COVID-19. We found some of the current anecdotal studies demonstrate promising therapeutic potential, but many of these studies do not meet the academic rigours to substantiate its use with confidence. However, the compassionate use of CBP in critically ill COVID-19 patients can be an option while we await a definitive answer from ongoing randomised clinical trials.
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