24 Nov NEJM Study: Plasma Must Not be Used in Patients with Severe COVID 19 Pneumonia

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Ventura Simonovich
Jefe. Sección Farmacología Clínica. Servicio de Clínica Médica
Coordinador Operativo. Investigación Patrocinada. Departamento de Investigación
Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires
Vicepresidente. Asociación Argentina de Farmacología Experimental (AAFE)

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

Response: The convalescent plasma is something that was used almost since the beginning of this pandemic, but all the information came at the beginning from cohort studies. We decided to run this trial to evaluate the efficacy of the convalescent plasma in patients with severe Covid 19 pneumonia, which was the main indication in our country.

Our findings show that convalescent plasma is equal to placebo except in patients younger than 65, in that population placebo is better than plasma. 

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

Response: Plasma must not be used in patients with severe COVID 19 pneumonia.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: Convalescent plasma must be studied in patients with recent onset of the disease, in trials with adequate design and with hard primary outcomes.  Maybe in this population have some effect, but the convalescent plasma is not scalable. We need to find other therapies based on antibodies, and prove if they lower the mortality.

Citation:

A Randomized Trial of Convalescent Plasma in Covid-19 Severe Pneumonia —

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Last Updated on November 25, 2020 by Marie Benz MD FAAD