Convalescent plasma applied in the first days of illness transformed COVID-19 into a bad cold in elderly people.
The research work, led by Dr. Fernando Polack, demonstrated that convalescent plasma administered in infected persons over 65 years of age with comorbidities and in all persons over 75 years of age is effective in preventing COVID-19 from developing into severe respiratory disease, provided it is administered within 72 hours of symptom onset.
In this way, and in line with the use of plasma derivatives -such as hyperimmune gamma globulin- and antiviral drugs in other diseases-, antibody-rich plasma acts at the onset of the disease preventing its progression, unlike trials performed in severe patients where stopping the progression of COVID-19 becomes more difficult and no conclusive benefits have been found in its use.
"Plasma is just a vehicle that carries antibodies. According to our study, 28% of people have the amount of antibodies necessary to donate plasma for this treatment. Patients who have had pneumonia or needed to be hospitalized are the ones who tend to produce the most antibodies," Polack explained.
About the study
Once all the patients who participated in the study received plasma or placebo, the evolution of the disease in both groups was compared. Of the patients effectively treated with plasma, only 9 needed oxygen against 23 who received placebo treatment. It is estimated that one out of every 6 people treated with plasma who would have had severe disease if they had not received it, did not develop it.
"This is the only study in the world against SARS-COV2 that was done with this rigorous methodology of early comparison of one group versus another and, therefore, provides evidence that the disease did not progress due to the administration of the plasma and not for other reasons," explained Dr. Romina Libster, one of the lead authors of the paper, a pediatric vaccine physician.
"During all the stages, the project, which involved around 400 people, required meticulousness to assemble the different links and cover both scientific and logistical needs," said Gonzalo Pérez Marc, one of the main authors of the work and current General Manager of Equipo.
This study, conducted by Argentine scientists, was the first evidence in the world of a universal, accessible and safe treatment that can save lives until vaccines become available.
The trial was conducted between June and October 2020 and involved. 160 adults over 65 years of age with at least one comorbidity (hypertension, diabetes, obesity, renal failure and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and all those over 75 years of age. The program coordinated the efforts of the public and private sectors, bringing together hospitals in the Province of Buenos Aires and hospitals in the Federal Capital, and was supported by the respective Ministry and Secretariat of Health, the PAMI, the Central Military Hospital, various actors in the health area and hundreds of volunteers.
An independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) oversaw the study by monitoring its quality and the well-being of patients. The study was funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the INFANT Foundation Pandemic Fund, which brings together numerous national companies and private contributors.
The research was carried out in collaboration with the Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria (IECS) and the Fundación Hematológica Sarmiento at Hospital Dr. Carlos Bocalandro, Hospital San Juan de Dios, Hospital Simplemente Evita, Hospital Central de San Isidro Dr. Melchor Ángel Posse, Clínica Olivos and a network of geriatric care units linked to PAMI in the Province of Buenos Aires. Melchor Ángel Posse, Clínica Olivos and a network of geriatric care units linked to PAMI in the Province of Buenos Aires, and at the Hospital Militar Central, Centro Gallego, Sanatorio de los Arcos, Hospital Universitario CEMIC, Sanatorio Sagrado Corazón, Sanatorio Anchorena and Sanatorio Finochietto in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires.
