As many different therapies for COVID-19 continue to be tested all over the world, the use of a historic treatment is thrust into the limelight as the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) issues an emergency use authorization for convalescent plasma therapy. Convalescent plasma therapy consists in using the plasma (the liquid part of the blood) of a recovered patient, which contains antibodies, and administering it either as a prophylactic (similar to a vaccine), or as a treatment for moderately or severely ill patients.

 

This type of treatment has been used at least since the early 20th century, in treating or preventing various infectious diseases, such as measles, poliomyelitis or Spanish flu, with success. Use in other coronavirus infections, like SARS and MERS, has also been reported. It should be noted, however, that this type of immunotherapy is not without risks, including transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI) and allergic/anaphylactic reactions, among others.

 

While the FDA has issued said authorization, in fact, the safety and efficacy of this treatment for COVID-19 has not yet been proven in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. The study behind this authorization finds a mortality reduction, but only among patients transfused within 3 days after diagnosis, versus after that time period, there is no control group; also, this study has not been peer-reviewed. Various experts and scientists have expressed concern, especially after FDA Commissioner Hahn’s misleading statements concerning the treatment’s efficacy.

 

Multiple studies are underway, and while preliminary data shows that convalescent plasma is likely safe, more time and resources must be focused to determining its usefulness in fighting this pandemic.

 

Melanie Salgado

Pharmacist and Medication Content Analyst

ALERT Life Sciences Computing