The administration of blood plasma from persons who recovered from Covid-19 to patients who are being treated is one of the most important options in the fight against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection.
The delivery of ready-made antibodies to the virus, through the plasma of patients who have recovered, gives hope to those suffering from Covid-19 infection, according to the Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (EKPA) Dr. Thanos Dimopoulos.
He made his remarks after the announcement of U.S. President Donald Trump that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proceeded to speed up approval for the administration of plasma from recovering patients to those treated for symptomatic Covid-19.
The EKPA Rector noted that a pre-publication study of 35,000 inpatients who received the blood product within 72 hours of hospitalization showed that those who received plasma with high levels of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 were 35 percent less likely to end up with the disease.
This is the second special treatment approved for the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, after Remdesvir.
Study in Greece
In Greece, a multicenter phase 2 study has been underway since April 28 regarding the administration of plasma from patients who recovered from Covid-19 to patients who are currently infected.
The study, which has the approval of the National Health Organization (EODY) is taking place in six Greek hospitals, with the participation of 22 scientists and the U.S. National Cancer Institute. The project is headed by Dr. Dimopoulos.
The researchers report that to date 286 volunteer plasma donors who had a positive PCR test for SARS-CoV-2, have been tested for coronavirus antibodies. The volunteers were either asymptomatic or had symptoms and had stayed at home or been hospitalized.
Eighty-eight percent of the volunteers were found to have antibodies to the virus using a methodology developed at the Pasteur Institute. Ninety-one healthy donors have already donated their plasma for treatment to inpatients. Sixteen patients have received this treatment in Greece and, according to the scientists, the results were beneficial to most of them.
The researchers explain that the small number of patients who received plasma to date is due to the fact that the study began when the number of patients treated for SARS-CoV-2 was in recession. There are currently 75 plasma units for immediate use, and the study is continuing, with plasma collection underway for a larger number of newly-infected patients.
The Greek study will last 20 months. The key element that will determine the success of this approach is the survival of patients at three weeks, one month, and two months after joining the study.
Source: greekreporter
