Can plasma therapy help India in it's fight against COVID-19
The Indian Council of Medical Research April 16, 2020 approved clinical trial of convalescent plasma therapy (CPT) for patients infected with novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). States like Kerala, Maharashtra,Tamil Nadu, and Delhi are set to start using the therapy.
But what is CPT?
Human blood comprises 4 elements:
Red blood cells
White blood cells
Platelets
Plasma
Plasma, the yellow liquid part of the blood,carries cells and proteins throughout the body. It also contains antibodies to fight against infections. CPT transfers antibody-rich plasma from recovered patients to those critically ill. Plasma isolated from a donor can be used in 2 patients
CPT was introduced in 1900 by Nobel laureate Emil von Behring. He developed antibodies from animals to cure diphtheria. The process has been used in pandemics like:
· Spanish flu - 1918
· Severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS) - 2003
· Middle East respiratory syndrome(MERS) - 2012
· Ebola - 2013