Too early to discuss mass treatment of COVID-19 with blood plasma, says Russian expert
It is too early to discuss mass treatment of COVID-19 patients with blood plasma in Russia, although some promising results have been achieved, Vladimir Chulanov, deputy chief of the National Medical Research Center for Phthisiopulmonology and Infectious Diseases under the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, told reporters on Friday.
"The treatment of patients with the plasma of those recovered was used in China during the epidemic; it is also being used in European states. <…> There are not so many results in Moscow so far: a small number of patients received treatment with the plasma with some good results, however, it is too early to talk about some large-scale implications. However, it is clear that this needs to be done, this is justified and logical," the expert said.
Chulanov explained that treating patients with blood plasma of those already recovered is not a new method. "There is some logic in it, as the people who have recovered from the disease become immune to the infection, and their blood, their blood plasma contains antibodies: immune proteins that can neutralize the virus itself. So it is only logical that we take the blood plasma of those recovered and use it to treat patients with severe symptoms of the infection in order to neutralize the virus," the expert said.
He noted that plasma donors must be selected in accordance with strict requirements. "These people must not have any chronic illnesses, and they must be tested for other viral infections: HIV, hepatitis," the expert added. Chulanov stressed that the plasma used during treatment is specially processed to deactivate all potential viruses, so it is safe to transfuse.
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"The treatment of patients with the plasma of those recovered was used in China during the epidemic; it is also being used in European states. <…> There are not so many results in Moscow so far: a small number of patients received treatment with the plasma with some good results, however, it is too early to talk about some large-scale implications. However, it is clear that this needs to be done, this is justified and logical," the expert said.
Chulanov explained that treating patients with blood plasma of those already recovered is not a new method. "There is some logic in it, as the people who have recovered from the disease become immune to the infection, and their blood, their blood plasma contains antibodies: immune proteins that can neutralize the virus itself. So it is only logical that we take the blood plasma of those recovered and use it to treat patients with severe symptoms of the infection in order to neutralize the virus," the expert said.
He noted that plasma donors must be selected in accordance with strict requirements. "These people must not have any chronic illnesses, and they must be tested for other viral infections: HIV, hepatitis," the expert added. Chulanov stressed that the plasma used during treatment is specially processed to deactivate all potential viruses, so it is safe to transfuse.
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