TY - JOUR
TI - A phase ii study on the use of convalescent plasma for the treatment of severe covid-19-a propensity score-matched control analysis
AU - Pappa, V.
AU - Bouchla, A.
AU - Terpos, E.
AU - Thomopoulos, T.P.
AU - Rosati, M.
AU - Stellas, D.
AU - Antoniadou, A.
AU - Mentis, A.
AU - Papageorgiou, S.G.
AU - Politou, M.
AU - Kotanidou, A.
AU - Kalomenidis, I.
AU - Poulakou, G.
AU - Jahaj, E.
AU - Korompoki, E.
AU - Grigoropoulou, S.
AU - Hu, X.
AU - Bear, J.
AU - Karaliota, S.
AU - Burns, R.
AU - Pagoni, M.
AU - Trontzas, I.
AU - Grouzi, E.
AU - Labropoulou, S.
AU - Stamoulis, K.
AU - Bamias, A.
AU - Tsiodras, S.
AU - Felber, B.K.
AU - Pavlakis, G.N.
AU - Dimopoulos, M.-A.
JO - Microorganisms
PY - 2021
VL - 9
TODO - 4
SP - null
PB - MDPI AG
SN - null
TODO - 10.3390/microorganisms9040806
TODO - null
TODO - COVID-19 is a global pandemic associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Convalescent plasma (CP) infusion is a strategy of potential therapeutic benefit. We conducted a multicenter phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CP in patients with COVID-19, grade 4 or higher. To evaluate the efficacy of CP, a matched propensity score analysis was used comparing the intervention (n = 59) to a control group (n = 59). Sixty patients received CP within a median time of 7 days from symptom onset. During a median follow-up of 28.5 days, 56/60 patients fully recovered and 1 patient remained in the ICU. The death rate in the CP group was 3.4% vs. 13.6% in the control group. By multivariate analysis, CP recipients demonstrated a significantly reduced risk of death [HR: 0.04 (95% CI: 0.004–0.36), p: 0.005], significantly better overall survival by Kaplan–Meir analysis (p < 0.001), and increased probability of extubation [OR: 30.3 (95% CI: 2.64–348.9), p: 0.006]. Higher levels of antibodies in the CP were independently associated with significantly reduced risk of death. CP infusion was safe with only one grade 3 adverse event (AE), which easily resolved. CP used early may be a safe and effective treatment for patients with severe COVID-19 (trial number NCT04408209). © 2021 by the au-thors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
ER -