1.
Outpatient convalescent plasma therapy for high-risk patients with early COVID-19. A randomized placebo-controlled trial
Gharbharan A, Jordans C, Zwaginga L, Papageorgiou G, van Geloven N, van Wijngaarden P, den Hollander J, Karim F, van Leeuwen-Segarceanu E, Soetekouw R, et al
Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. 2022
-
-
-
Free full text
-
Editor's Choice
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The potential benefit of convalescent plasma (CP) therapy for COVID-19 is highest when given early after symptom onset. Our objective was to determine the effectiveness of CP in improving the disease course of COVID-19 in high-risk outpatients. METHODS A multicentre double blind randomized trial was conducted comparing 300mL of CP with non-CP. Patients were 50 years or older, symptomatic for <8 days, had PCR or antigen-test confirmed COVID-19 and at least 1 risk factor for severe COVID-19. The primary endpoint was the highest score on a 5-point ordinal scale ranging from fully recovered (score=1) or not (2) on day 7, over hospital admission (3), ICU admission (4) and death (5) in the 28 days following randomization. Secondary endpoints were hospital admission, symptom duration and viral RNA excretion. RESULTS After enrolment of 421 patients and the transfusion of 416, recruitment was discontinued when the countrywide vaccination uptake in those aged >50 years was 80%. Patients had a median age of 60, symptoms for 5 days and 207 of 416 received CP. During the 28 days of follow-up, 28 patients were hospitalized and 2 died. The odds ratio (OR) for an improved disease severity score with CP was 0.86 (95%credible interval 0.59-1.22). The OR was 0.58 (95%confidence interval 0.33-1.02) for patients with ≤5 days of symptoms. The hazard ratio for hospital admission was 0.61 (95%confidence interval 0.28-1.34). No difference was found in viral RNA excretion nor in the duration of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS In patients with early COVID-19, CP did not improve the 5-point disease severity score. CLINICAL REGISTRY NUMBER NCT04589949.
PICO Summary
Population
High-risk outpatients with early COVID-19 (n= 416).
Intervention
Convalescent plasma (CP), (n= 207).
Comparison
Regular plasma (non-CP, n= 209).
Outcome
Patients had a median age of 60 years old, and symptoms for 5 days. During the 28 days of follow-up, 28 patients were hospitalized and two died. The odds ratio (OR) for an improved disease severity score with CP was 0.86 (95% credible interval: 0.59-1.22). The OR was 0.58 (95% confidence interval: 0.33-1.02) for patients with ≤5 days of symptoms. The hazard ratio for hospital admission was 0.61 (95% confidence interval: 0.28-1.34). No difference was found in viral RNA excretion nor in the duration of symptoms.
2.
Prospective individual patient data meta-analysis of two randomized trials on convalescent plasma for COVID-19 outpatients
Millat-Martinez P, Gharbharan A, Alemany A, Rokx C, Geurtsvankessel C, Papageourgiou G, van Geloven N, Jordans C, Groeneveld G, Swaneveld F, et al
Nature communications. 2022;13(1):2583
-
-
-
Free full text
-
Editor's Choice
Abstract
Data on convalescent plasma (CP) treatment in COVID-19 outpatients are scarce. We aimed to assess whether CP administered during the first week of symptoms reduced the disease progression or risk of hospitalization of outpatients. Two multicenter, double-blind randomized trials (NCT04621123, NCT04589949) were merged with data pooling starting when <20% of recruitment target was achieved. A Bayesian-adaptive individual patient data meta-analysis was implemented. Outpatients aged ≥50 years and symptomatic for ≤7days were included. The intervention consisted of 200-300mL of CP with a predefined minimum level of antibodies. Primary endpoints were a 5-point disease severity scale and a composite of hospitalization or death by 28 days. Amongst the 797 patients included, 390 received CP and 392 placebo; they had a median age of 58 years, 1 comorbidity, 5 days symptoms and 93% had negative IgG antibody-test. Seventy-four patients were hospitalized, 6 required mechanical ventilation and 3 died. The odds ratio (OR) of CP for improved disease severity scale was 0.936 (credible interval (CI) 0.667-1.311); OR for hospitalization or death was 0.919 (CI 0.592-1.416). CP effect on hospital admission or death was largest in patients with ≤5 days of symptoms (OR 0.658, 95%CI 0.394-1.085). CP did not decrease the time to full symptom resolution. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04621123 and NCT04589949. REGISTRATION NCT04621123 and NCT04589949 on https://www. CLINICALTRIALS gov.
PICO Summary
Population
COVID-19 outpatients enrolled in two multicenter trials: COnV-ert and CoV-Early (n= 797).
Intervention
Convalescent plasma (n= 390).
Comparison
Placebo (n= 392).
Outcome
Seventy-four patients were hospitalized, 6 required mechanical ventilation and 3 died. The odds ratio (OR) of convalescent plasma for improved disease severity scale was 0.936; OR for hospitalization or death was 0.919. The convalescent plasma effect on hospital admission or death was largest in patients with ≤5 days of symptoms (OR 0.658). Convalescent plasma did not decrease the time to full symptom resolution.