Emerging Infectious Diseases (Mar 2022)

High-Dose Convalescent Plasma for Treatment of Severe COVID-19

  • Gil C. De Santis,
  • Luciana Correa Oliveira,
  • Pedro M.M. Garibaldi,
  • Carlos E.L. Almado,
  • Julio Croda,
  • Ghislaine G.A. Arcanjo,
  • Érika A.F. Oliveira,
  • Adriana C. Tonacio,
  • Dante M. Langhi,
  • José O. Bordin,
  • Renato N. Gilio,
  • Leonardo C. Palma,
  • Elaine V. Santos,
  • Simone K. Haddad,
  • Benedito P.A. Prado,
  • Marjorie Cornejo Pontelli,
  • Rogério Gomes,
  • Carlos H. Miranda,
  • Maria Auxiliadora Martins,
  • Dimas T. Covas,
  • Eurico Arruda,
  • Benedito A.L. Fonseca,
  • Rodrigo T. Calado

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2803.212299
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 28, no. 3
pp. 548 – 555

Abstract

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To assess whether high-dose coronavirus disease (COVID-19) convalescent plasma (CCP) transfusion may benefit patients with severe COVID-19, we conducted a multicenter randomized trial in Brazil. Patients with severe COVID-19 who were within 10 days of initial symptom onset were eligible. Patients in the CCP group received 3 daily doses of CCP (600 mL/d) in addition to standard treatment; control patients received standard treatment only. Primary outcomes were death rates at days 30 and 60 of study randomization. Secondary outcomes were ventilator-free days and hospital-free days. We enrolled 107 patients: 36 CCP and 71 control. At day 30, death rates were 22% for CCP and 25% for the control group; at day 60, rates were 31% for CCP and 35% for control. Needs for invasive mechanical ventilation and durations of hospital stay were similar between groups. We conclude that high-dose CCP transfused within 10 days of symptom onset provided no benefit for patients with severe COVID-19.

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