The Ministry of Health completed the study on the use of plasma in patients with COVID-19 and concluded that the results are only positive when it is used in an initial stage of the disease. Dr. Miguel Ouebe, hemotherapist at the National Blood Center, explained that some donations continue to be received from patients who have overcome the virus but there are almost no requests from doctors, because the system is saturated and using this treatment requires a lot protocol.
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January 15, 2021 – 06:31
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Dr. Miguel Ouebe, hemotherapist doctor of the distribution area of the National Center for Blood Services, confirmed that plasma donations continue to be received from patients who have overcome COVID-19. However, he indicated that the campaign carried out at the national level to attract donors has already ended because the study on the effectiveness of said treatment to deal with said virus was completed.
In that sense, he stressed that there are not many requests from doctors who wish to use plasma due to the results of the study and, above all, because the health system is completely saturated.
Regarding the first point, the doctor explained that the study carried out in our country, as well as the analyzes carried out worldwide, concluded that plasma transfusion only helps to improve the pictures of patients who are in a very early stage of the illness.
That is, contrary to what was believed at the beginning of the pandemic, seriously ill patients who received plasma did not show improvement after having undergone treatment. He noted that there were no negative effects in any case, but the effectiveness was only verified in patients who had the initial symptoms and recovered faster than the others.
Read also: Donating convalescent plasma is important to prevent more covid patients from going to therapy
In addition, doctors do not ask for plasma either because, as explained by the specialist, performing plasma therapy requires a lot of protocol and paperwork. This is because it is a treatment that does not have as much scientific evidence and many previous studies must be carried out.
In addition, he emphasized that the health system is completely saturated and a single doctor must attend up to 20 patients simultaneously, which is why currently targeted professionals choose to use faster drugs and whose results have been verified.
Finally, he recalled that plasma donations can still be made, since they will be available when the Ministry of Health requires it.
Thus, he also urged patients who have not had COVID-19 to donate plasma and blood for patients with other pathologies that require several transfusions daily.
Related note: Plasma is effective in people over 65 with covid-19, according to an Argentine study
Plasma as a treatment for patients with COVID-19 began to be used experimentally in August of last year, within a project headed by Dr. Angélica Samudio, from the Research Directorate of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the National University of Assumption.
Its use was totally experimental and approved only within controlled clinical trials, with the aim of analyzing the effect in patients. Therefore, the protocol for each patient was very strict from the beginning, interviews, a clinical examination and laboratory tests were carried out to ensure the health of the donor and that of the anonymous and voluntary recipient.
Any patient can donate from 14 days after they have stopped having symptoms, until day 30, as long as they have positive and negative swab results, respectively. Women with children are the exception, since they are contraindicated.
Dr. Ouebe stressed that it is still important to continue receiving plasma from those recovered from this disease, in case it is necessary again, for which he urged patients who have overcome the disease, with or without symptoms, to continue donating. Interested parties can contact 021 205 840 for more information.
Read More: The project “Plasma Therapy of COVID Convalescent Patients” is already underway
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