Convalescent plasma for COVID-19: Promising, not proven

Simon R Mucha; NurJehan Quraishy

doi:10.3949/ccjm.87a.ccc056

Convalescent plasma for COVID-19: Promising, not proven

Cleve Clin J Med. 2020 Nov 2;87(11):664-670. doi: 10.3949/ccjm.87a.ccc056.

Authors

Simon R Mucha¹, NurJehan Quraishy²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Critical Care Medicine, Respiratory Institute, Cleveland Clinic; Clinical Instructor, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH.
² Section Head Transfusion Medicine, Department of Clinical Pathology, Cleveland Clinic; Assistant Professor, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH quraisn@ccf.org.

PMID: 32759176
DOI: 10.3949/ccjm.87a.ccc056

Abstract

While promising, convalescent plasma remains experimental and is not proven effective for COVID-19. In addition, many questions remain regarding the accuracy and predictive value of antibody testing of donors and patients, optimal donor selection, optimal timing, and selection of patients most likely to benefit. Until these questions are answered, convalescent plasma should ideally be used in the context of well-designed clinical trials.

MeSH terms

Betacoronavirus* / immunology
Betacoronavirus* / isolation & purification
COVID-19
COVID-19 Serotherapy
COVID-19 Testing
Clinical Laboratory Techniques / methods*
Clinical Trials as Topic
Coronavirus Infections* / diagnosis
Coronavirus Infections* / genetics
Coronavirus Infections* / immunology
Coronavirus Infections* / therapy
Donor Selection
Humans
Immunization, Passive / adverse effects
Immunization, Passive / methods
Pandemics*
Patient Selection
Pneumonia, Viral* / diagnosis
Pneumonia, Viral* / genetics
Pneumonia, Viral* / immunology
Pneumonia, Viral* / therapy
Predictive Value of Tests
Reproducibility of Results
Risk Assessment
SARS-CoV-2
Time-to-Treatment*
Treatment Outcome