Evaluation of the efficacy of immune plasma treatment in COVID-19 infected intensive care unit patients

Abstract

Introduction: Treatment approach in COVID-19 infection consists of antiviral, immunomodulatory, and supportive treatments. Convalescent plasma, immune plasma or hyperimmune plasma refers to the plasma that consisting of high titer polyclonal antibodies against the virus and are amidst the immunomodulatory treatments. Although it has been reported that immune plasma treatment of COVID-19 reduces hospital stay and mortality, the efficacy of immune plasma with COVID-19 infection is not clear yet. The present study aims to investigate the efficacy of immune plasma in patients who are followed up in the intensive care unit with the diagnosis of COVID-19. Materials and methods: In this retrospective study, the patients who were hospitalized in the intensive care unit with the diagnosis of COVID-19 infection were divided into two groups: those who received IP treatment (Group 1; n=28) and those who did not (Group 2; n=25). The biochemical C -reactive protein, lactate-dehydrogenase, ferritin, D-dimer, total bilirubin, creatine levels, hematological parameters (Leukocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte, platelet counts), clinical sepsis scores (SOFA, APACHE scores) and mortality rates of the patients were evaluated according to groups. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between Group 1 and Group 2 in terms of the presence of mechanical ventilation support and tracheostomy, comorbidities, laboratory values, C -reactive protein, SOFA, APACHE scores. The mortality rate was 61% in Group 1 and 52% in Group 2. Conclusions: Our findings revealed that immune plasma treatment was not effective in recovery and decreasing the mortality rates in the COVID-19 infected intensive care unit patients. Further studies are needed to investigate the efficacy of administering immunomodulatory therapies on the outcome before the hyper inflammatory process starts.