Study shows 76 percent of coronavirus patients improve after plasma transfusion | Fox News
Patients with severe coronavirus have been rolling up their sleeves for convalescent plasma transfusions in hopes of improving conditions. (iStock)
The Houston study was published May 26 in The American Journal of Pathology.
The study's outcomes focused on safety and the potential benefit of transfusing convalescent plasma to patients with severe coronavirus. Noting several other studies that suggest plasma donations are an effective treatment strategy for COVID-19, the Houston reachers wanted to offer more data on initial clinical observations.
“The data indicate that administration of convalescent plasma is a safe treatment option for those with severe COVID-19 disease,” study authors wrote.
A week after transfusion, 36 percent of patients showed clinical improvement. Another seven days later, a total of 76 percent, or 19 patients, improved or were discharged from the hospital.
Study authors described the therapy, which was one transfusion of 300 mL of plasma, as “well-tolerated,” and said that “no transfusion-related adverse events were observed.”