Convalescent plasma therapy for patients with severe COVID-19: A case series study

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel acute respiratory infectious disease that can lead to multiple-organ dysfunction in patients with severe disease. However, there is a lack of effective antiviral drugs for COVID-19. Herein, we investigated the efficacy and safety of convalescent plasma (CP) therapy for treating severe COVID-19 in an attempt to explore new therapeutic methods. The clinical data of 3 imported patients with severe COVID-19 who underwent treatment with CP and who were quarantined and treated in a designated COVID-19 hospital from March 2020 to April 2020 were collected and analyzed. The 3 patients, including a 57-year-old male, 65-year-old female, and 59-year-old female, were clinically classified as having severe COVID-19. The main underlying diseases included hypertension, diabetes, sequelae of cerebral infarction, and postoperative thyroid adenoma. The common symptoms included cough, fever, and shortness of breath. All patients received antiviral drugs and other supportive treatments. Additionally, CP treatment was administered. At 48 to 72 hours after the CP transfusion, all 3 of the patients exhibited an improvement and alleviation of symptoms, an elevated arterial oxygen saturation, and decreased C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels. The counts of the total lymphocytes and T lymphocytes (CD3+) and their subsets (CD4 + and CD8+) were also obviously increased. Repeated chest computed tomography also revealed obvious absorption of the lesions in the bilateral lungs. Only 1 patient had a mild allergic reaction during the CP infusion, but no severe adverse reactions were observed. The early treatment with CP in patients with severe COVID-19 can rapidly improve the condition of the patients, and CP therapy is generally effective and safe.