Plasma therapy may soon be off Covid treatment protocol

Citing findings of India's study on the convalescent plasma therapy for Covid that the treatment is ineffective in reducing mortality among severe patients, Indian Council of Medical Research chief Dr Balram Bhargava said the therapy is likely to be off the standard treatment protocol for

Sushmi Dey
  • Updated On Oct 21, 2020 at 06:53 AM IST
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New Delhi: Citing findings of India's study on the convalescent plasma therapy for Covid that the treatment is ineffective in reducing mortality among severe patients, Indian Council of Medical Research chief Dr Balram Bhargava said the therapy is likely to be off the standard treatment protocol for management of the diesese.

“We have done the largest trial on plasma therapy in the world with 464 patients across 39 hospitals and with more than 350 authors. It has now been accepted in BMJ (the British Medical Journal) and we have received proof, it will appear very soon … more than 10 pages of hardcore science talking about the role of plasma in Covid,” Dr Bhargava said.

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“We have discussed this in the national task force and are discussing further now with the joint monitoring group that this (plasma therapy) may be deleted from the national guidelines. That is the discussion is ongoing and more or less we are reaching towards that,” he added while noting that the study was the world's largest.

In September, TOI had reported that early evidence from one of ICMR’s randomised controlled trials on the efficacy of convalescent plasma has shown possibility of adverse reactions in some cases, even as the therapy did not reduce mortality nor did it prevent progression from moderate to severe disease.

Bhargava’s comments assume significance as many states have now set up plasma banks even as results of trials to establish its efficacy are yet to be published. The treatment is permitted under the investigative therapies category and hospitals charge for its use, adding a substantial financial dimension.

Currently, convalescent plasma therapy is allowed as an investigational therapy for use in Covid-19 patients. The clinical management protocol prescribed by the government recommends convalescent plasma by plasmapheresis as “Off Label” in Covid-19 patients with a few safeguards.
  • Published On Oct 21, 2020 at 06:53 AM IST
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