Early administration of high-titer convalescent plasma against SARS-CoV-2 reduces progression in mildly ill older adults<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
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FRIDAY, Jan. 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Progression of mild COVID-19 can be reduced by early administration of high-titer convalescent plasma against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), according to a study published online Jan. 6 in the New England Journal of Medicine<\/em>.<\/p>\n Romina Libster, M.D., from Fundaci\u00c3\u00b3n INFANT in Buenos Aires, and colleagues conducted a randomized, double-blind trial of convalescent plasma with high immunoglobulin G titers against SARS-CoV-2 in older adults within 72 hours after onset of mild COVID-19 symptoms. Because cases of COVID-19 in the trial region decreased considerably and steady enrollment of patients became virtually impossible, the trial was stopped early at 76 percent of its projected sample size.<\/p>\n One hundred sixty patients were randomly assigned to either 250 mL of convalescent plasma with an immunoglobulin G titer greater than 1:1000 against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein or placebo. The researchers found that severe respiratory disease developed in 16 and 31 percent of patients who received convalescent plasma and placebo, respectively, in the intention-to-treat population (relative risk, 0.52). A larger effect size was seen in a modified intention-to-treat analysis excluding six patients with a primary end point before infusion of convalescent plasma or placebo (relative risk, 0.40). There were no solicited adverse events observed.<\/p>\n “This simple and inexpensive intervention can reduce demands on the health care system and may save lives,” the authors write. “Early infusions of convalescent plasma can provide a bridge to recovery for at-risk patients until vaccines become widely available.”<\/p>\n Several pharmaceutical companies provided study funding.<\/p>\n