New Delhi: Weeks after the World Health Organisation's solidarity trial found no efficacy of convalescent plasma (CP) treatment in reducing COVID-19 related mortality, the latest study conducted by Kolkata based Infectious Disease and Belaghata General Hospital has found that plasma treatment reduces hospitalization and increases survival benefits among COVID-19 patients aged less than 67 years.
"Significant immediate mitigation of hypoxia, reduction in hospital stay as well as survival benefits were recorded in severe COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) aged less than 67 years receiving convalescent plasma therapy. In addition to its neutralizing antibody content, a prominent effect of convalescent plasma on the attenuation of systemic cytokine levels possibly contributed to its benefits," said the study.
Talking to ETV Bharat, Dr Tamorish Kole, president of Asian Society for Emergency Medicine said that two Indian studies on convalescent plasma therapy, one single centre open-label phase II randomised controlled trial and another multi-centre, retrospective case-control observational study have recently been concluded.
"In both studies, CP failed to demonstrate any statistically significant clinical benefit when the entire population study was considered.CP did not offer any mortality benefit in patients of moderate severity or those who were terminally ill. Therefore, precise targeting of severe COVID-19 patients is necessary for reaping the clinical benefits of CP therapy," said Dr Kole.
He said that the randomised controlled trial (RCT) conducted in Kolkata also revealed the prominent anti-inflammatory effects of CP, which may also underline the clinical benefits registered.
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"Further explorations are needed to validate the anti-inflammatory effect in larger cohorts and to identify non-immunoglobulin components of convalescent plasma responsible for these anti-inflammatory effects," added Dr Kole.
During the study, convalescent plasma was collected from patients recovered from COVID-19 following a screening protocol which also included measuring plasma anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG content.
"Retrospectively, neutralizing antibody content was measured and proteome was characterised by LC-MS/MS for all convalescent plasma units that were transfused to patients. Severe COVID-19 patients with evidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome with PaO2/FiO2 ratio 100-300 were recruited and randomised into two parallel arms of SOC and CPT, N=40 in each arm," the study said.
Patients were followed up for 30 days post-admission to assess the primary outcome of all-cause mortality and immunological correlates for clinical benefits. The trial found a significant reduction in hospital stay and survival benefits were recorded in severe COVID-19 patients with ARDD aged below 67 years receiving CP therapy.
Talking to ETV Bharat, Dr Vinay Aggarwal, member of the ethics committee of the World Medical Association said that Convalescent plasma therapy is still working in India. "People age getting cured with the CP therapy across India," said Dr Aggarwal.
Stating that study and trial are an ongoing process, Aggarwal said that many countries are also experimenting convalescent plasma therapy till date. Several states in India are still applying convalescent plasma treatment to the core its COVID-19 patients, while the states keep revising advisory for administering convalescent plasma therapy.
