Rev Invest Clin . INFUSION OF CONVALESCENT PLASMA IS ASSOCIATED WITH CLINICAL IMPROVEMENT IN CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS WITH COVID-19: A PILOT STUDY

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Rev Invest Clin


. 2020;72(3):159-164.
doi: 10.24875/RIC.20000237.
INFUSION OF CONVALESCENT PLASMA IS ASSOCIATED WITH CLINICAL IMPROVEMENT IN CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS WITH COVID-19: A PILOT STUDY


Juan C Olivares-Gazca ^{1 2} , Jose M Priesca-Mar?n ¹ , Mart?n Ojeda-Laguna ¹ , Javier Garces-Eisele ^{2 3} , Silvia Soto-Olvera ³ , Abraham Palacios-Alonso ⁴ , Judith Izquierdo-Vega ⁴ , R?mulo Chacon-Cano ⁵ , Daniel Arizpe-Bravo ⁵ , Miguel A L?pez-Trujillo ³ , Yahveth Cantero-Fortiz ^{1 6} , Danitza Fernandez-Lara ^{1 2} , Guillermo J Ruiz-Delgado ^{1 3} , Guillermo J Ruiz-Arg?elles ^{1 5}



Affiliations

• PMID: 32584322
• DOI: 10.24875/RIC.20000237

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.

Keywords: Convalescent plasma; Coronavirus disease-19; Severe coronavirus disease-19.