The entire nation is observing the lockdown due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, and the state of Maharashtra has the most number of cases in India. However, due to the unavailability of the vaccine or medication for this deadly virus, doctors and healthcare professionals across the world are trying their best to treat patients with available possibilities. In a recent development, the ICMR suggested plasma therapy and has also given some selected hospitals and necessary permissions to try this form of treatment on patients infected with the coronavirus. However, since this is NOT the actual treatment for the virus and has not been tested for its efficiency, the ICMR and public health officials have also advised other centres to avoid this mode of treatment.
But since this information is now viral, not many are aware of what plasma therapy is, and here are some points you need to know about this treatment.
1. This therapy utilises the antibodies available in the human blood, especially in patients who have recovered from the infection. Hence, in the current scenario, there is a need for plasma from previous patients, which could help treat the ones who are currently admitted.
2. The treatment is performed by drawing blood from the recovered patient, after which the serum is separated to understand the virus-neutralising antibodies. The serum is the yellowish liquid part of the blood which is collected.
3. The antibodies from the recovered person help other patients recover faster when attacked by the pathogen. Science states that one's body makes these proteins which are designed to target the germs, and they are available in the blood plasma for months.
4. Though there is no confirmation about the success of this convalescent plasma therapy, doctors are using it as an experimental procedure on some COVID-19 patients. Countries like the US and China have used this in the past for several other critical conditions. Along with these two and India, other nations like Spain, Italy, UK, and Turkey are also experimenting with this treatment for coronavirus.
5. Donating plasma is similar to donating blood where a small device is used on a recovered patient which helps remove plasma from the blood, where the red blood cells are sent back to the body. It is said that a person can donate plasma more frequently, unlike usual blood donation, and this procedure takes an hour or two.
Talking about the same, Dr Rajiv Kovil Consultant Diabetologist for many Mumbai based hospital, said "We don’t have a cure or vaccine for COVID-19, and hence plasma therapy is the lowest-hanging fruit. The treatment has been used for more than a century for many viral infections and epidemic. The success rate is high as it is a known therapy. Once a person has recovered from the infection, the plasma therapy can begin after four days where the blood can be taken. This treatment has been conducted in China and USA, where 1:1000 and 1:640 titer was observed. It has been used for patients who are critically ill and the results are positive and successful. Ideally, it should be encouraged among patients who have tested negative, as it could prove to be beneficial for the critically ill patient in times where no cure is available. The challenge is how state government would make a plan regarding the same."
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