COVID patient cured by plasma therapy in Karnataka: Minister

Karnataka Health Minister B. Sriramulu took to a micro-blogging site to congratulate a team of doctors who have successfully treated a 64-year-old corona patient with plasma therapy at Hubbali. The patient didn't improve with initial treatment but showed some positive results after the donated plasma was injected into the patient.

Bengaluru:Doctors in Karnataka's Hubballi have successfully treated a COVID patient with plasma therapy, said Health Minister on Tuesday.

"Doctors at the Karnataka Institute of Medical Science (KIMS), Hubballi have successfully treated a 64-year-old corona patient with plasma therapy. Congratulations", tweeted Health Minister B. Sriramulu.

R.C. Antartani, Director of KIMS, said that the patient was admitted on May 27 with Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) and moderate COVID symptoms.

"He didn't improve with initial treatment. Later, an expert committee took a decision on plasma therapy," Antarani told a news agency.

A recovered COVID patient came forward to donate his blood plasma after counselling. The donated plasma was then injected into the patient on May 29 and 30.

"The patient improved both symptomatically and radiologically. He is maintaining saturation of 88 to 90 per cent without oxygen. No tachypnea (fast breathing)," said Antarani.

KIMS-Hubballi was started in 1957 and is affiliated to the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. Hubballi is 413 km northwest of state capital Bengaluru.

(With inputs from IANS)