Those who have had a coronavirus infection usually have protective antibodies in the blood. And after a test, Paul Tromp’s blood turned out to be suitable as a medicine.
Now the Rotterdam hospital does not want his blood, but Tromps plasma. Antibodies in plasma are produced in healthy persons after infection with a pathogen or a vaccination. ‘We extract these antibodies from the plasma and are used in the treatment of diseases such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B (jaundice) and tetanus,’ reports Erasmus MC on its website.
Plasma mainly consists of fluid and proteins, but without the blood cells. “The antibodies bind the virus and turn it off. It is not yet certain that it can cure people who have corona. However, very recent research at Erasmus MC shows that monkeys make antibodies that switch off the virus, ‘says internist infectiologist Bart Rijnders.
On Tuesday, Paul Tromp gave up his first half liter of plasma, he has to come back three more times. “It doesn’t take long. They draw blood and in a centrifuge the plasma is left behind and you immediately get the blood back. You don’t really notice it. ”
‘One and one is two’
A colleague pointed Tromp to the study at Erasmus MC. “I think it’s great that I can do this. One and one is two.’
The resident of Beneden-Leeuwen thinks that he is one of the very first Dutch people who have been cured from corona and walk around with antibodies. “Still he follows the rules. “I’m one of the safest people to cuddle, haha.”
Fever, headache, cough, sneezing. Around February 22, Paul Tromp developed the later classic symptoms of Covid-19. “I was on a business trip in Northern Italy. Was even with colleagues at the football match between Atalanta and Valencia. “
The mayor of Bergamo called this duel one of the major causes of the spread of the corona virus in Italy. “The virus was still in China at the time, a flu that was far away,” says Tromp.
But he did get sick, stayed in home isolation for two weeks. Three weeks after the first symptoms, Paul Tromp was back above Jan. “I’ve had a hit conditionally. It’s really not the flu, as we first thought. “
Rob Kleijs spoke to Paul Tromp on Radio Gelderland:
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