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Revista Cubana de Investigaciones Biomédicas
Print version ISSN 0864-0300On-line version ISSN 1561-3011
Abstract
RODRIGUEZ-VENEGAS, Elia de la Caridad; FONTAINE-ORTIZ, Julio Ernesto and AVILA-CABREJA, José Alejandro. Convalescent plasma as potential treatment for COVID-19 patients. Rev Cubana Invest Bioméd [online]. 2021, vol.40, n.1, e893. Epub Apr 01, 2021. ISSN 0864-0300.
Introduction:
Convalescent plasma is a form of passive immunotherapy which has been used for the treatment and prevention of many infectious diseases for more than one century. Given the absence of a specific treatment for the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, convalescent plasma is a potential therapeutic alternative against COVID-19.
Objective:
Carry out a review about the use of convalescent plasma as a therapeutic alternative against COVID-19.
Discussion:
A search was conducted about the topic in the databases Pubmed, SciELO, Lilacs, Cochrane Library and Web of Science. Convalescent plasma has been shown to be effective in the treatment of several viral diseases. However, evidence of its use in COVID-19 patients is scant. Promising results have been obtained, though, but they are not conclusive due to the need of a larger number of clinical trials. In Cuba this treatment is included among the clinical management protocols for COVID-19.
Conclusions:
This alternative is an immunotherapeutic tool for the treatment of COVID-19 patients, since it improves their clinical status and reduces lethality rates. However, more controlled and randomized clinical trials are required confirming its effectiveness and safety.
Keywords : SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; passive immunotherapy; convalescent plasma; hyperimmune plasma.