DMCH starts collecting plasma from COVID-19 survivors

Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) is set to start collecting blood plasma from COVID-19 survivors on Saturday, for the treatment of patients.

The plasma will be collected at the blood transfusion department of DMCH from three physicians who survived the fatal infection.

Initially, the plasma will be used to treat 45 critically ill COVID-19 patients. A project to run clinical trial of plasma therapy has been undertaken that may conclude by June, according to DMCH.

The three donor physicians are Dildar Hossain, physician at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College, Pias, physician at Sir Salimullah Medical College, and Atiar Rahman, physician at Kuwait Bangladesh Friendship Government Hospital.

. “As far as we know, plasma therapy is effective for patients who have not yet shifted to intensive care” MA Khan, head of plasma therapy related expert committee in the country . “As far as we know, plasma therapy is effective for patients who have not yet shifted to intensive care,” said MA Khan, head of plasma therapy related expert committee in the country and also head of haematology at DMCH.

“Such patients are taking a short time to recover under plasma therapy, because the survivors’ antibodies render coronavirus ineffective in the patient’s body. This will prevent acute lung injury in the patients and they won’t need ICU or ventilation,“ Khan said adding that, “It’s not that effective in patients whose lungs have been totally damaged and who are under treatment at the intensive care unit already.”

Khan said though the therapy does not work for all, it’s being applied globally due to no alternative. Several countries including the US, China, UK and India are using the plasma therapy for treating patients.

. Some 55 per cent of blood constitutes plasma where the antibodies grow. As the plasma of the survivor is collected for treating COVID-19 patients, the method is called ‘plasma therapy’. . The body of a patient making full recovery from COVID-19, creates antibodies that are crucial for immune system, according to physicians working in the field. If the antibodies of a recovered patient are given to an infected person, the patient will recover, they added.

Some 55 per cent of blood constitutes plasma where the antibodies grow. As the plasma of the survivor is collected for treating COVID-19 patients, the method is called ‘plasma therapy’,

“Plasma therapy is a century-old treatment. Plasma contains various antibodies. An antibody protein builds up in the blood of a person infected by any virus or bacteria. The antibody protein then creates a wall around the bacteria or virus that eventually destroys the virus or bacteria. This is the basic mechanism,” MA Khan said.

. China received promising results in plasma therapy where 10 patients made recovery. . According to physicians, plasma therapy is generally carried out on COVID-19 patients having respiratory complications or oxygen shortage in blood.

As per international media, China received promising results in plasma therapy where 10 patients made recovery. India too was successful in this regard.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US also approved plasma therapy seeking cooperation of people who made full recovery from the disease for donating plasma.

. Bangladesh reported its first coronavirus case on 8 March. Till Friday, the total number of confirmed cases reached 20,065 including 298 deaths. For last several days, over 1,000 patients are being detected per day.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), so far 3,800 persons have recovered.

Noting that the plasma collection is a big challenge, MA Khan said, “We shall start collecting plasma from the survivors following the World Health Organisation’s guidelines. The donors should not fear the process as there are no side-effects. This is a wrong concept that people might get infected again if they donate plasma.”

“Collecting plasma is impossible without the participation of coronavirus survivors and government cooperation.”

. "We will observe these patients and compare the symptoms including temperature, pneumonia and oxygen supply in blood after the therapy" MA Khan, head of haematology at DMCH . “At least 2 to 3 patients can be given plasma from one survivor. Next week, we will run a clinical trial on 45 patients admitted at DMCH. We will observe these patients and compare the symptoms including temperature, pneumonia and oxygen supply in blood after the therapy,” he said.

MA Khan considers if the antibody count is higher in a donor’s plasma, it is easier for the patient to recover fast.

Any COVID-19 survivor can donate plasma contacting the blood transfusion department at DMCH.

On 2 May, DMCH began admitting COVID-19 patients at the burn unit. The second coronavirus unit will be launched at the medicine block of the hospital on 16 May. Some 650 patients will receive treatment in the building.

So far, 308,642 people died globally of the virus which originated in China while 4,628,228 were infected as of Saturday morning, according to Worldometer.

*This report, originally published in Prothom Alo print edition, has been rewritten here in English by Nusrat Nowrin .