A doctor in our team deconstructs Convalescent Plasma Therapy for you in this explainer series.
We start with understanding what is plasma.
Blood is divided into components.
Oxygen carrying RBCs, disease fighting WBCs, platelets which form clots to stop bleeding and...
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We start with understanding what is plasma.
Blood is divided into components.
Oxygen carrying RBCs, disease fighting WBCs, platelets which form clots to stop bleeding and...
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...the liquid component Plasma that contains various constituents like circulation maintaining plasma proteins, nutrients like glucose, hormones like thyroid hormones, disease fighting antibodies etc.
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What is Plasma therapy?
Plasma therapy deals with the transfusion of plasma from a patient who has recovered from COVID-19 to one that is fighting the infection.
Persons who recover from the disease have got disease fighting immunoglobulins in their plasma....
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Plasma therapy deals with the transfusion of plasma from a patient who has recovered from COVID-19 to one that is fighting the infection.
Persons who recover from the disease have got disease fighting immunoglobulins in their plasma....
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...When the plasma of such a recovered person is transfused to a severely ill person, their body essentially receives a reinforcement of soldier molecules to fight the infection.
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When is plasma therapy administered?
Plasma therapy is administered to patients whose condition is not improving despite the use of conventional treatments.
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Plasma therapy is administered to patients whose condition is not improving despite the use of conventional treatments.
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Who can donate convalescent plasma? What are the side effects?
A person who was infected with COVID-19 and has been fully recovered for two weeks or more may donate convalescent plasma.
A healthy individual should not experience any side effects from donating plasma.
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A person who was infected with COVID-19 and has been fully recovered for two weeks or more may donate convalescent plasma.
A healthy individual should not experience any side effects from donating plasma.
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A donor is evaluated for fitness when they present themselves for donation. Only donations from eligible donors are accepted.
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Can the recipient receive plasma from any donor? Is cross matching required?
A transfusion from a patient with a matching ABO blood group is preferred, but not always mandatory. Plasma carries a lower risk of transfusion related injury as compared to RBCs or whole blood.
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A transfusion from a patient with a matching ABO blood group is preferred, but not always mandatory. Plasma carries a lower risk of transfusion related injury as compared to RBCs or whole blood.
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Does plasma therapy guarantee cure of COVID19?
Plasma therapy is one of the strategies that can be adopted to treat critical COVID19 as part of a multipronged approach.
As for guarantees, nothing in life is guaranteed.
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Plasma therapy is one of the strategies that can be adopted to treat critical COVID19 as part of a multipronged approach.
As for guarantees, nothing in life is guaranteed.
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What is the process for plasma therapy?
Same as for any blood transfusion.
Plasma therapy has its advantages, but it also has many pitfalls including huge logistics challenges, requirements for donor screening and the time consuming and...
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Same as for any blood transfusion.
Plasma therapy has its advantages, but it also has many pitfalls including huge logistics challenges, requirements for donor screening and the time consuming and...
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...inefficient process of separation of plasma as well as the potential for transfusion related adverse effects to the recipient. While it is being used as of now because of limited options, it is not a viable option to treat COVID19 on a large scale.
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