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Evaluating convalescent plasma therapy in severe COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study
Masoud Moeini Taba1, Reza Eshraghi2, Maryam Zare Tutestani2
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
Insights
Convalescent plasma (CP) therapy is safe and potentially effective for severe COVID-19 patients. This passive immunization treatment showed no adverse effects in a study of 50 patients, offering valuable insights for managing critical cases.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Convalescent plasma (CP) therapy, a passive immunization strategy, has been explored for treating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
- Severe COVID-19 presents significant challenges in patient management and treatment efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of convalescent plasma (CP) therapy in patients diagnosed with severe COVID-19.
- To identify potential associations between baseline patient characteristics and treatment outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cohort study involving 50 severe COVID-19 patients treated with CP.
- Collected clinical and laboratory data, including vital signs and inflammatory markers (ESR, CRP, WBC), pre- and post-therapy.
- Assessed plasma donors for high IgG levels and absence of comorbidities.
Main Results:
- No adverse effects were reported following CP therapy.
- Significant associations were found between baseline erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and patient factors like age, comorbidities, hypertension, and intubation status.
- No significant correlation was observed between recipient outcomes (WBC, ESR, CRP) and donor IgG levels.
Conclusions:
- Convalescent plasma (CP) therapy demonstrates safety and potential efficacy for severe COVID-19, particularly in specific patient subgroups.
- Findings contribute to understanding CP therapy's role in severe COVID-19 management, highlighting the need for further research to optimize protocols.
Introduction:
Convalescent plasma (CP) therapy is a form of passive immunization which has been used as a treatment for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CP therapy in patients with severe COVID-19.
Methodology:
In this retrospective cohort study, 50 patients with severe COVID-19 treated with CP at Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Kashan, in 2019 were evaluated. Eligible plasma donors were COVID-19 survivors with high IgG levels and no comorbidities. Clinical and laboratory parameters, including vital signs, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cell (WBC) levels, were measured before and after CP therapy at specified intervals including 24 h and 48 h post-therapy.
Results:
The average age of the patients was 55.96 years, and 46% had comorbidities. No adverse effects from CP therapy were reported. Significant associations were observed between baseline ESR levels and factors such as age, comorbidities, hypertension history, and intubation status. However, there was no significant correlation between the outcomes of WBC, ESR, and CRP levels and the IgG levels in recipients.
Conclusions:
CP therapy appears to be a safe and potentially effective treatment for severe COVID-19, especially in patients with certain baseline characteristics. These findings add valuable insights into the management of severe COVID-19 cases, although further research is needed to fully understand the implications and optimize treatment protocols.
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