On the Safety of the COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Treatment: Thrombotic and Thromboembolic Concerns

ABSTRACT

Recently, it was reported that near-sourced COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CP) is more efficient than distantly sourced CP. What was left behind in this analysis is the investigation of the possible causes of mortality associated with the CP transfusion itself. Knowing this information is important for determining whether not receiving CP of near source is the main cause of high rate of death in the group of patients who received distantly sourced CP. We argue that the thrombotic and thromboembolic events may act as risk factors for adverse complications and death associated with CP transfusion. Therefore, they have to be considered and carefully accounted for in population studies as they can affect the CP safety profiles and change the interpretation of the cause of death in the studied groups.