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Current Perspectives of convalescent plasma therapy in COVID-19
Kamal Kant Sahu1, Ajay Kumar Mishra2, Manish Raturi3
1Department of Medicine Saint Vincent Hospital Worcester, MA. kamalkant.sahu@stvincenthospital.com.
Insights
Convalescent Plasma therapy is emerging as a potential treatment for critically ill COVID-19 patients. This discussion explores its therapeutic application, donor challenges, and global experiences.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
- Transfusion Medicine
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic presents a significant global health challenge with a high burden of severe cases.
- Limited definitive treatment options exist for COVID-19 pneumonia, driving research into alternative therapies.
- Convalescent Plasma therapy has gained attention as a potential treatment for severe COVID-19.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss the therapeutic potential of Convalescent Plasma for COVID-19.
- To highlight challenges associated with identifying suitable plasma donors.
- To review transfusion medicine responsibilities and current global experiences with this therapy.
Main Methods:
- Review of preliminary reports and ongoing research on Convalescent Plasma therapy.
- Discussion of donor selection criteria and safety protocols.
- Analysis of global case studies and outcomes.
Main Results:
- Preliminary findings suggest positive outcomes with Convalescent Plasma in some critically ill COVID-19 patients.
- Challenges include donor availability, antibody titer standardization, and optimal timing of transfusion.
- Transfusion medicine plays a crucial role in ensuring safe and effective plasma administration.
Conclusions:
- Convalescent Plasma therapy shows promise as a supportive treatment for severe COVID-19.
- Further research and standardized protocols are necessary to optimize its use.
- Addressing donor recruitment and logistical challenges is vital for wider implementation.
Abstract:
The outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has posed an unprecedented challenge to the health care communities across the globe. As of June 2, 2020, a total of 6,418,968 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 378,954 deaths have been reported. Different regions of the world have reported varying intensity of COVID-19 severity. The disease burden for COVID-19 depends on multiple factors like the local infection rate, susceptible population, mortality rate, and so on. The COVID-19 pandemic is a rapidly evolving emergency and is a subject of regular debate and advanced research. As of today, there is a lack of definitive treatment options for COVID-19 pneumonia. In search of alternative options, few drugs are being tested for their efficacy and repurposing. Preliminary reports have shown positive outcomes with Remdesivir and tocilizumab, but this needs further confirmation. Recently, the therapeutic application of Convalescent Plasma therapy in critically ill patients suffering from COVID-19 has gained momentum. We hereby discuss the convalescent plasma as a potential therapeutic option, its challenges of finding the ideal donors, transfusion medicine responsibilities, and the current global experience with its use.
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