03 Feb COVID-19: Study Finds Narrow Window For Convalescent Plasma Effectiveness

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Troxel

Andrea B. Troxel, ScD (she/her/hers)
Professor and Director, Division of Biostatistics
Department of Population Health
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
NYU Langone Health

MedicalResearch.com:  What is the background for this study?  What are the main findings?

Response: This study represents an international collaboration across four continents and six countries, to pool information from studies in different patient populations to generate robust information about the possible benefits of convalescent plasma in treating COVID-19. Because the study was so large and the methods so rigorous, we were able to show that while CP doesn’t benefit all patients, it may have positive effects in certain subgroups.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: It seems clear that there is a narrow window in which convalescent plasma might be effective. If patients are already hospitalized and severely ill, as in our study, it may be too late for convalescent plasma to work. A recent study of CP in outpatients showed a clear benefit and reduced mortality and hospitalizations significantly. Our study showed that while convalescent plasma did not have a strong beneficial effect on average, there were subgroups of patients in whom the therapy appeared to help – these were patients with the least severe disease, and with other pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and pulmonary disease.

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Response: We are grateful to NCATS/NIH for grant funding in support of the work, and thankful to all of the patients who participated in the trials.

Citation:

Troxel AB, Petkova E, Goldfeld K, et al. Association of Convalescent Plasma Treatment With Clinical Status in Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19: A Meta-analysis. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(1):e2147331. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.47331 

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Last Updated on February 3, 2022 by Marie Benz MD FAAD