Administration of convalescent plasma to hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 infection increased antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus disease 2 but was not associated with improved outcome.

Enrollment was terminated after emergency use authorization was granted for convalescent plasma.

74 patients were randomized.

At baseline, mean (SD) Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, percent of patients intubated, and median (interquartile range) days from symptom onset to randomization of 9 (6–18) and 9 (6–15), were similar in the convalescent plasma versus standard plasma arms, respectively.

Convalescent plasma had high neutralizing activity and its administration increased antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 by 14.4%, whereas standard plasma administration led to an 8.6% decrease (p = 0.005).

No difference was observed for ventilator-free days through 28 days (primary study endpoint): median (interquartile range) of 28 (2–28) versus 28 (0–28; p = 0.86) for the convalescent plasma and standard plasma groups, respectively.

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