Plasma convalescent therapy for COVID-19 patients: A literature review.

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the new coronavirus infection (SARS-CoV-2) has created a pandemic that has led to a global fight to cope with the large number of infected people, many of which require intensive care. To date, there is no specific anti-virus treatment for COVID-19. The use of convalescent plasma transfusions could be of great value in the current pandemic. Methods:A search was carried out in Google Scholar and PubMed between November 2019 and July 2020. Results: 150 articles were found. After using the exclusion criteria and eliminating duplicate articles, we reviewed 37 studies. Eighteen studies (5 case reports, 4 case series, 2 systematic reviews, 7 article reviews) with 90 participants were included. Recovered SARS-CoV-2 patients who may be suitable donors undergo apheresis to obtain convalescent plasma containing high-titer antibodies, provided they meet the blood donation criteria. Conclusion: The benefits and efficacy of convalescent plasma far outweigh the possible side effects, as there is no specific drug therapy or vaccine available. The use of convalescent plasma therapy in the management of patients with different levels of severity of COVID-19 disease has become a mainstay of management in global management and an accessible option in developing countries