Emergence of ancient convalescent plasma (CP) therapy: To manage COVID-19 pandemic

Transfus Clin Biol. 2021 Feb;28(1):123-127. doi: 10.1016/j.tracli.2020.11.004. Epub 2020 Dec 5.

Abstract

Since December 2019, the human populations of the 195 global countries continue experiencing grave health and life threats due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the novelty of the pathogen, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), at present there is lack of preventive as well as therapeutic options for treating and managing the infection. The use of ancient immunotherapeutic technique - the convalescent plasma (CP) therapy, may act as an immediate and available option to control the COVID-19 pandemic. This review provides a concept and understanding on the CP therapy, its potential to control SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The CP therapy might act as an immediate saviour for society from the virus. Although the CP therapy has exert affirmative result against COVID-19 it has not been recommended for long time use in COVID-19 and this review gives support for its possible application.

Keywords: Antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE); Convalescent plasma (CP) therapy; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Passive immune therapy; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Antibodies, Viral / therapeutic use*
  • COVID-19 / blood
  • COVID-19 / therapy*
  • COVID-19 Serotherapy
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Convalescence
  • Disease Management
  • Humans
  • Immunization, Passive / adverse effects
  • Immunization, Passive / methods
  • Pandemics*
  • Plasmapheresis
  • SARS-CoV-2* / immunology
  • SARS-CoV-2* / pathogenicity
  • Virulence

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral