Early Convalescent Plasma Significantly Reduced Severe COVID-19 Risk

Researchers at Fundacion INFANT in Argentina published a study in the New England Journal of Medicine on January 6, 2021, that concluded 'Plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients with high levels of antibodies appeared to delay or stop the progression of illness in mildly ill older adults infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.'

The administration of convalescent plasma with high titers of antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus to infected patients within 72 hours after the onset of symptoms reduced the risk of progression to severe respiratory disease by 48%.

The researchers stated: 'This simple and inexpensive intervention can reduce demands on the health care system and may save lives. Early infusions of convalescent plasma can provide a bridge to recovery for at-risk patients until vaccines become widely available. Although our trial lacked the statistical power to discern long-term outcomes, the convalescent plasma group appeared to have better outcomes than the placebo group concerning all secondary endpoints.'