Report on the program of the use of convalescent plasma in the treatment of patients with COVID-19 in the Czech Republic and the results of the national multicentre study RESCOVID-19
Abstract
Introduction: The production and use of convalescent plasma (CP) collected from persons after COVID-19 disease became a rapidly available treatment modality in a number of countries, including the Czech Republic, during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Between April 2020 and April 2021, a total of 19,079 CP units were produced in the Czech Republic, of which 14,197 units were dispensed to approximately 7,100 patients in 61 hospitals.
Of the total number of 131,000 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 during the given period, CP was administered to 5.4%. The retrospective multicentre RESCOVID-19 study was conducted to evaluate the eff ectiveness and safety of CP treatment of COVID-19 disease.
Material and methods: The primary objective of the study, which involved 6 hospitals, was to evaluate the clinical eff ectiveness of CP in the treatment of COVID-19 compared to standard therapy without the administration of CP. The secondary objective was to evaluate the impact of the level of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in CP on survival and speed of recovery.
The incidence and severity of adverse reactions associated with the administration of CP were also determined. Results: A total of 1,506 patients were enrolled in the study, of which 414 (27.3%) were treated with CP and 1092 (72.7%) were without this treatment (control group).
The results of the logistic regression model showed a mean survival probability estimate of 91.8% for patients in the CP group administered within 3 days of symptom onset (N = 100), which is similar to the control group with a survival probability of 91.7%. The worst results were found in the group of patients with CP administered after the 3rd day (N = 313) where survival was only 82.3%.
However, patients with CP transfused by the 3rd day recovered signifi cantly earlier compared to controls and patients with CP transfused after the 3rd day. The study did not demonstrate an eff ect of the amount of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the CP on survival (78% survival with VNP = 320).
Adverse eff ects related to CP administration were recorded in 2.17% of patients; clinically mild in all cases. Conclusion: The results of the study showed that early application of CP accelerated recovery but had no eff ect on COVID-19 survival.
The anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody concentration in CP had no eff ect on survival and speed of recovery.