COVID-19: the blood plasma of Recovering can be acute help Patients

Many infections with the novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 have been relatively harmless, or even without any symptoms. However, in the case of a part of the COVID-19-patients and patients with a severe course of the disease. These Patients can sometimes help the blood plasma of Recovering.

Despite intensive research in numerous institutes and companies around the world, there is still no effective therapy against the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Therefore, it is used in some cases in the blood plasma of people who have already survived a SARS-CoV-2 infection. This Plasma contains antibodies against the novel pathogen. This can be hard to be sick helped.

The healing attempt in the case of life-threatening infections

As the University hospital Jena (UKJ) writes in a recent communication, can treat the professionals of the Institute for transfusion medicine at the UKJ acute COVID-19-fell Ill with the blood plasma of convalescent Corona Affected.

“After a Corona-disease antibodies are found frequently in the blood of the Convalescent. With a plasma donation, we win this and prepare you accordingly,“ explains Dr. Silke Rummler, Director of the Institute for transfusion medicine at the UKJ.

“The so-called convalescent Plasma can we use then as an individual therapeutic trial in patients with severe, life-threatening COVID-19 infection. The antibodies in donated blood plasma to act like a vaccination, passive immunization of the Affected.“

As the notice explains, is the principle of passive immunization using antibodies is not new: It was already used to combat other dangerous viral diseases of diphtheria on Spanish flu to Ebola.

There are no viruses in the body may be present

Therefore, the Jena-based transfusion medicine and medical professionals – as well as numerous other clinics – people who are after their Corona-disease back to health on call, to plasma donation.

Can log in-Giving that has been tested positive for the Virus in SARS CoV-2, the causative agent of the COVID-19-disease, and, for at least four weeks to recover.

In addition, the proof that there are no viruses in the body must be at least two weeks back.

Convalescent must generally be donations suitable for

A prerequisite for the donation to the General donation suitability of the recovering Person. “We consider the current state of health, potential chronic pre-existing medical conditions or last vaccinations. We also test the blood contained antibodies against the Virus SARS-CoV-2,“ Dr. Rummler.

At a second appointment the plasma donation takes place then. As in the case of a whole blood donation or the Donation of blood is taken from a vein in the crook of the arm. The connected plasmapheresis device separates the blood plasma from the solid blood components to the donor back.

After about 30 to 45 minutes, the donation amount from 650 to 750 Milli-litres of Plasma. Then, the donated Plasma is tested on various infection parameters, processed and to the use of the patient or the patient at -30 °C and stored. (ad)