Infusion of Convalescent Plasma is Associated with Clinical Improvement in Critically Ill Patients with COVID-19: A Pilot Study

ABSTRACT Background: The ideal treatment of coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 has yet to be defined, but convalescent plasma (CoPla) has been successfully employed. Objective: The objective of the study was to study the safety and outcomes of the administration of CoPla to individuals with severe COVID-19 in an academic medical center. Methods: Ten patients were prospectively treated with plasma from COVID-19 convalescent donors. Results: Over 8 days, the sequential organ failure assessment score dropped significantly in all patients, from 3 to 1.5 (p = 0.014); the Kirby index (PaO2/FiO2) score increased from 124 to 255, (p < 0.0001), body temperature decreased significantly from 38.1 to 36.9°C (p = 0.0058), and ferritin levels also dropped significantly from 1736.6 to 1061.8 ng/ml (p = 0.0001). Chest X-rays improved in 7/10 cases and in 6/10, computerized tomography scans also revealed improvement of the lung injury. Decreases in C-reactive protein and D-dimer levels were also observed. Three of five patients on mechanical ventilation support could be extubated, nine were transferred to conventional hospital floors, and six were sent home; two patients died. The administration of CoPla had no side effects and the 24-day overall survival was 77%. Conclusions: Although other treatments were also administered to the patients and as a result data are difficult to interpret, it seems that the addition of CoPla improved pulmonary function.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Olivares-Gazca,Juan C., Priesca-Marín,Jose M., Ojeda-Laguna,Martín, Garces-Eisele,Javier, Soto-Olvera,Silvia, Palacios-Alonso,Abraham, Izquierdo-Vega,Judith, Chacon-Cano,Rómulo, Arizpe-Bravo,Daniel, López-Trujillo,Miguel A., Cantero-Fortiz,Yahveth, Fernandez-Lara,Danitza, Ruiz-Delgado,Guillermo J., Ruiz-Argüelles,Guillermo J.
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán 2020
Online Access:	http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-83762020000300159
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