Convalescent Plasma for Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: A Single-Center Experience

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Immunology
• Public Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted Italy, with the Lombardy region being an early epicenter.
• COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) emerged as a primary therapeutic intervention against SARS-CoV-2.
• Understanding the real-world effectiveness of CCP is crucial for managing severe cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of compassionate use of CCP in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
• To identify factors associated with a favorable response to CCP treatment.
• To report the initial experience with CCP therapy in the Western hemisphere.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study involving 405 hospitalized COVID-19 patients treated with CCP between April 2020 and April 2021.
• Analysis of patient demographics, comorbidities, disease severity, and CCP characteristics, including neutralizing antibody (nAb) titers.
• Assessment of 28-day mortality rates and adverse reactions associated with CCP administration.

Main Results:

• The median age of patients was 68 years, with 62% males and significant prevalence of increased BMI and comorbidities.
• The 28-day crude mortality rate was 12.6%.
• Favorable outcomes were associated with younger age, milder disease, early treatment initiation (<7 days), and high nAb titer CCP (≥320).
• CCP treatment demonstrated a favorable safety profile, with only 1.3% mild adverse reactions.

Conclusions:

• Early administration of high-titer CCP is a safe and effective therapeutic strategy for hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
• Factors such as early intervention and high neutralizing antibody levels significantly improve treatment outcomes.
• This study provides valuable insights into the real-world application of CCP in the early stages of the pandemic.