Convalescent Plasma Therapy in Four Critically Ill Pediatric Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Case Series

Area of Science:

• Pediatric critical care medicine
• Infectious diseases
• Hematology/Transfusion medicine

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic lacks specific treatments, necessitating exploration of novel therapeutic approaches.
• While convalescent plasma has shown potential in adults, data for critically ill pediatric patients are limited.
• Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can lead to critical illness in children, including acute respiratory failure.

Observation:

• This case series reports on four critically ill pediatric patients (ages 5-16) with COVID-19 and acute respiratory failure.
• All patients received SARS-CoV-2 convalescent plasma within 26 hours of admission, alongside other disease-modifying agents.
• No adverse events were observed during or after the convalescent plasma transfusions.

Findings:

• All four pediatric patients experienced a full recovery and were discharged without requiring oxygen support.
• The use of SARS-CoV-2 convalescent plasma was feasible and well-tolerated in this cohort of critically ill children.
• Early administration of convalescent plasma may contribute to positive clinical outcomes in severe pediatric COVID-19 cases.

Implications:

• SARS-CoV-2 convalescent plasma represents a potentially viable treatment option for severe COVID-19 in pediatric intensive care settings.
• Further well-designed clinical trials are essential to establish the definitive safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma in pediatric populations.
• Investigating combined therapeutic approaches, including convalescent plasma, is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies in critically ill children with COVID-19.