May 14, 2020

expert reaction to Cochrane rapid review on convalescent plasma in COVID-19 patients

Cochrane have conducted a rapid review on convalescent plasma in COVID-19 patients.

Dr Lise Estcourt, Head of NHS Blood and Transplant’s Clinical Trials Unit, which is running the convalescent plasma trial in England, said:

“This Cochrane rapid review of the evidence shows there is currently only very limited evidence on the benefits and safety of convalescent plasma.  This is why it is so important to perform large randomised controlled trials that are powered to detect a difference in outcomes that are important to patients such as decreasing mortality or the need for mechanical ventilation.  In England we have opened a trial of convalescent plasma for adults admitted to intensive care (REMAP-CAP) and hope to open a trial in all hospitalised patients in collaboration with the RECOVERY trial for people of all ages.”

‘Convalescent plasma or hyperimmune immunoglobulin for people with COVID‐19: a rapid review’ by Sarah J Valk et al. was published in the Cochrane Library on Thursday 14 May 2020.

DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD013600

https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD013600/full

All our previous output on this subject can be seen at this weblink:

www.sciencemediacentre.org/tag/covid-19

Declared interests

None received.