Convalescent Plasma of Covid-19 to Treat SARS-COV-2 a Randomized Doble Blind 2 Center Trial

Overview

The new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is an emerging virus originating in Wuhan, China that has spread rapidly throughout the world. As of March 24, 2020, China had reported 81,767 cases with 3,281 deaths, and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) a pandemic. COVID-19 disease is currently a pandemic without specific therapeutic agents and substantial mortality. So it is of utmost importance to find new treatments. Various therapies, such as Remdesivir and Favipiravir, are being investigated but the antiviral efficacy of these drugs is not yet known. The use of convalescent plasma was used as an empirical treatment during the Ebola virus outbreaks in 2014 and in 2015 a protocol was established for the treatment of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS) with convalescent plasma. This approach with other viral infections such as SARS-CoV, H5N1 avian influenza and H1N1 influenza suggesting that plasma transfusion from convalescent donors was effective. For this study, plasma from convalescent donors will be collected from those donors who have recovered from SARS-CoV-2 and are between 10 and 14 days after illness. Immunoassays will be carried out to detect total IgM and IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Patients will receive 1 to 3 convalescent plasma transfusions, depending on the response to treatment. The expected results are: normal body temperature, decrease in viral load or negative between 10-12 days after transfusion of convalescent plasma, which does not progress to ARDS, extubation of mechanical ventilation within two weeks of treatment, recovery of patient.

Currently, SARS-CoV-2 disease represents a Public Health emergency of international concern. The new coronavirus COVID-19 is estimated to have infected more than 1.8 million people worldwide. The WHO estimates that the contagion rate (R0) of the virus is 1.4 to 2.5, which affects its exponential replication. In the absence of an effective treatment for SARS-CoV-2 disease, there is an urgent need to evaluate therapeutic alternatives that reduce the mortality and morbidity of this virus. There is scientific evidence that supports the use of convalescent donor plasma for the treatment of emerging virus outbreaks and suggests that the transfusion of convalescent donor plasma is effective, and therefore the following question is established: The use of plasma from convalescent donors by COVID-19 in patients with SARS-CoV-2 disease, stage II (moderate) and III (severe), is a treatment that reduces mortality? Given that the mortality rate is a very relevant fact, which concerns the general population, the clinical treatments that can be used to reduce the mortality rate of critical cases are of great relevance. There are patients recovered from COVID-19 who are potential plasma donors, and in turn, many critical patients who need to receive it. Currently, there are no effective treatments to address COVID-19 disease. A recent WHO report indicates that early results with the use of convalescent plasma suggest that it may be a potentially useful treatment modality for severe SARS-CoV-2 disease. The use of convalescent plasma from COVID-19 in acute infected patients is currently considered an experimental therapy. This implies the need to promote clinical trials in order to demonstrate their efficacy. It is recommended that the entire process from donor selection, processing, labeling, storage and distribution to be carried out in a specifically licensed institution. These institutions must have all the guarantees that prove the correct practice of the procedures. The use of convalescent plasma has been used as rescue therapy in patients with SARS whose condition continues to deteriorate despite treatment with methylprednisolone pulses, in addition, different studies have shown a decrease in hospital stay, and lower mortality in patients treated with convalescent plasma compared to those in which this treatment was not used. A multicenter randomized study by Hung showed that the use of convalescent plasma in patients with type A H1N1 influenza was associated with a lower viral load and a reduction in mortality 5 days after the onset of symptoms. A Mair-Jenkins meta-analysis showed that mortality was reduced after several doses of convalescent plasma, and another meta-analysis by Luke identified in 1703 patients with influenza pneumonia (1918-1925) that the use of convalescent plasma blood products an absolute reduction. 21% (95% CI 15-27; p = 0.001) in crude fatality with low risk of bias.