Willis-Knighton Health System has begun a clinical trial of the use of convalescent plasma therapy as an experimental treatment of COVID-19.
Mayo Clinic is lead institution for this Food and Drug Administration-approved expanded access study, which allows institutions like Willis-Knighton to investigate convalescent plasma therapy for patients with cases of moderate to severe COVID-19.
Patients who recover from COVID-19 infection have large amounts of antibodies against the virus in their blood. Plasma rich in antibodies can be removed from a person who has recovered by a simple procedure in a blood bank and given to a patient ill with COVID-19. In a few small studies, it appears that this convalescent serum has had positive effects on the course of infection. Additional research is needed to determine overall effectiveness.
FOR THE REST OF THE ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE April 17 ISSUE OF FOCUS SB - THE INQUISITOR, GO TO https://www.theinquisitor.com/news/willis-knighton-conducts-clinical-trial-covid-19-therapy-donors-wanted OR SUBSCRIBE TODAY AT http://www.theinquisitor.com