Chapter 10

Role of Blood Plasma Transfusion Against COVID-19

Muhammad Ibrar, Abdullah, Iyad Ibrahim Shaqura, Ahmed Abdelmajed Alkhodary and Fazlullah Khan*

Abstract

Historically, convalescent plasma (CP) has been successfully used in pandemics caused by the influenza A (H1N1) virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and Ebola. As the current pandemic by SARS-CoV-2 poses an unprecedented threat to humanity. The number of infections is increasing exponentially day by day. Identifying, qualifying, collecting, and preparing plasma from convalescents with sufficient SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody titers in this pandemic may be challenging but within the approach of most blood establishments. Careful clinical evaluation may rapidly establish whether CP therapy at the early onset of disease in patients of high risk may improve symptoms, reduce hospital stay and decrease mortality due to COVID-19. Moreover, CP is an excellent therapeutic option due to the lack of specific treatment for COVID-19, as the availability of anti-viral drugs/vaccines may take more time.

Total Pages: 253-265 (13)

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