DGHS: Can use plasma therapy in moderate cases

DGHS: Can use plasma therapy in moderate cases

New Delhi:02.07.2020

Convalescent plasma can be considered for treatment of moderate Covid patients who are not improving (oxygen requirement is progressively increasing) despite use of steroids, the directorate general of health services (DGHS) said on Wednesday, clearing the air on use of convalescent plasma therapy, reports Sushmi Dey.

Convalescent plasma therapy is allowed as an investigational therapy for use in Covid-19 patients. The clinical management protocol prescribed by the government recommends convalescent plasma by plasmapheresis as in Covid-19 patients with a few safeguards.

According to the DGHS, under the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, the special prerequisites while considering convalescent plasma include ABO compatibility and cross-matching of the donor plasma. Recipient should also be closely monitored for several hours post transfusion for any transfusion-related adverse events. “Use should be avoided in patients with IgA deficiency or immunoglobulin allergy,” it said.

The recommended dose for the therapy is variable ranging from 4 to 13 ml/kg (usually 200 ml single dose given slowly over not less than 2 hours).

The health ministry had recently revised blood transfusion guidelines to include collection of convalescent plasma under the clinical trials protocol from people who have recovered from Covid-19 infection.

The Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) is also working to create a database of potential convalescent plasma donors for hospitals treating Covid-19 patients.

Full report on www.toi.in