The use of convalescent plasma has been dropped from the recommended treatment guidelines for COVID-19, according to late Monday advisory from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The decision comes a day after members of ICMR’s National Task Force suggested that the plasma therapy lacked effectiveness and was used inappropriately in several cases.
The National Task Force of the ICMR, along with experts from the Health Ministry, periodically updates guidelines on recommended modes of treatment. Registered doctors anywhere, however, aren’t bound by the Task Force recommendations.
The earlier set of guidelines, which have now been replaced, allowed “off label” use of plasma therapy at the stage of early moderate disease, that is, within seven days of the onset of symptoms and if there is availability of a high titre donor plasma.
Plasma is the clear liquid portion of the blood that remains after red and white blood cells, platelets, and other cellular components have been taken from it. Convalescent plasma extracted from the blood of patients recovering from an infection is a source of antibodies against the infection.
Earlier, as per the ICMR advisory on April 22, Convalescent plasma (Off label) was considered only when the following criteria were met: Early moderate disease (preferably within 7 days of symptom onset, no use after 7 days) and availability of high titre donor plasma (Signal to cut-off ratio (S/O) or equivalent depending on the test kit being used). As per the previous advisory, Remdesivir, Tocilizumab (off label) and Convalescent plasma (Off label) were used for treatment of COVID-19 patients.
However, as per the latest advisory, only Remdesivir, Tocilizumab (off label) can be used.
On May 14, a meeting of the ICMR-National Task Force for Covid-19 was held during which its ‘ineffectiveness’ in a number of cases was discussed. With the cases surging in the country, there has been a spur in the demand for plasma donors, even as experts raise concerns over the efficacy of plasma therapy for Covid-19 patients.
India’s daily spike in coronavirus cases has dipped below the 3 lakh mark for the first time in nearly 26 days on Monday.
