Blood plasma transfusions with high concentrations of COVID-19 antibodies have reduced deaths among some patients with the virus, according to a new study conducted by researchers at the Mayo Clinic, giving credibility to one of the few known treatments for the disease.
“Early administration of high-tier convalescent plasma against SARS-CoV-2 in elderly people with moderate infection reduced the progression of Covid-19,” concluded the researchers.
The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Wednesday, accompanied by an editorial explaining how the treatment works, entitled “(A Little) Clarity on Convalescent Plasma for Covid-19.”
“I think it is up to the medical community to continue to innovate and test therapies for treatment. Realistically, we are months away from having a substantial number of people vaccinated, ”Dr. R. Scott Wright, coordinator of the COVID-19 plasma therapy program at the Mayo Clinic, told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
Patients who received antibody-rich plasma in the first three days of treatment had better results, but the treatment was less effective in those who were treated longer and had to be placed on ventilators, the researchers found.
“Patients on the ventilator saw no benefit,” said Dr. Wright to the Star-Tribune. “It was too late.”
The study evaluated 3,082 patients and found a 25% lower chance of death in patients who received antibody-rich plasma.