Treatment with convalescent plasma for COVID-19 patients in Wuhan, China.
Mingxiang Ye and colleagues published this paper on April 15, 2020. Six laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted to Wuhan Huoshenshan Hospital from February 11th to March 12th, 2020 received transfusions of ABO-compatible convalescent plasma. The clinicians then monitored for alleviation of symptoms, changes in radiologic abnormalities, and laboratory test outcomes.
These researchers also described a post-discharge asymptomatic “walking COVID-19” case in one of their patients. These “walking COVID-19” cases may be able to infect additional people.
The researchers measured the efficacy of convalescent plasma therapy in three SARS patients by measuring viral load. Their results revealed viral load dropped from 495×10*3, 76×10*3, or 650×10*3 copies/mL to zero or 1 copy/mL one day after transfusion.
AUTHORS : Ye M, Fu D, Ren Y, Wang F, Wang D, Zhang F, Xia X, Lv T
ABSTRACT : The discovery of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are causing public health emergency. A handful of literatures have summarized its clinical and radiologic features, whereas therapies for COVID-19 are rather limited. In order to evaluate the efficacy of convalescent plasma therapy in COVID-19 patients, we did this timely descriptive study. 6 laboratory confirmed COVID-19 patients were enrolled and received the transfusion of ABO-compatible convalescent plasma. The efficacy of this intervention was determined by the alleviation of symptoms, changes in radiologic abnormalities and laboratory tests. No obvious adverse effect observed during the treatment. Transfusion of convalescent plasma led to a resolution of ground glass opacities (GGOs) and consolidation in patient #1, #2, #3, #4 and #6. In patient #1 and #5 who presented with SARS-CoV-2 in throat swab, convalescent plasma therapy elicited an elimination of virus. Serologic analysis indicated an immediate increase in anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers in patient #2 and #3, but not in patient #1. This study indicates that convalescent plasma therapy is effective and specific for COVID-19. This intervention has a special significance for eliminating SARS-CoV-2 and is believed to be a promising state-of-art therapy during COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Please cite this article as doi: 10.1002/jmv.25882