Effectiveness of Convalescent Plasma Therapy in Moderate to Severely Ill Covid-19 Patients.

ABSTRACT

Convalescent plasma therapy, a classic adaptive immunotherapy used in the treatment of SARS, MERS, and 2009 H1N1 pandemic with acceptable efficacy and safety in the past. Convalescent plasma therapy was taken into consideration in management of COVID 19 disease during the initial days of pandemic but was withdrawn later due to its doubtful beneficial role. This study aims to explore the beneficial role of convalescent plasma and to determine whether convalescent plasma therapy holds a second chance in treating SARS COV-2. MATERIAL: This cross-sectional observational study includes 82 cases of moderate to severely ill COVID 19 patients who received convalescent plasma therapy and 41 controls who didn't. Regular monitoring of TLC, P/F ratio, N/L ratio inflammatory markers, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, ABG and radiological imaging was done for comparative analysis. OBSERVATION In case group 39 patients (47.56%) were on oxygen mask, 17 patients (20.73%) on NIV, 9 Patients on NRM (10.97%), 16 patients (19.51%) on room air, 1(1.21%) on HFNC initially. After 7th day of convalescent plasma therapy 49 patients (59.75%) were on room air which suggests significant improvement in mode of ventilation in case group as compared to control group. Mean respiratory rate in case group was 30.46 CPM initially and 24.7 CPM on day 7th of plasma therapy which is statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Plasma therapy is effective if given in early stage of disease and convalescent plasma donors having adequate antibody titre.