Could convalescent plasma help patients fight COVID-19? The SANBS believe that these life-saving antibodies can save and help South Africa!
Johannesburg, South Africa (06 June 2020) – With the SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) now being a part of our reality, the focus is increasingly starting to move towards the development of effective treatments and cures for the virus.
One of these therapies currently in development is convalescent plasma.
Convalescent plasma is plasma that is collected from patients who have recovered from a virus, which contains neutralising antibodies necessary to fight off a virus. These antibodies develop in the body’s plasma and remain there for some time – even after someone has fully recovered – to shield them from possible future infection from that virus. In theory, these antibodies could be the key ingredient for a treatment to help others with the same virus. The use of convalescent plasma to treat an illness is not a new concept in medicine. In fact, convalescent plasma was used as a treatment for patients during the 1918 influenza outbreak – also known as the Spanish flu.
The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is at the forefront of this therapy in South Africa, currently participating in the collection of convalescent plasma for a national trial.
Heeding the call issued by the SANBS for convalescent plasma, Dr Jonathan Louw, the SANBS Chief Executive Officer has become one of the first people to donate convalescent plasma. Following what he called a “tough infection, coupled with a history of chronic asthma,” he is happy to have been able to make a full recovery following his intense battle with the infection.
Dr Louw was one of the early contractors of the COVID-19 virus in the country. Having made a full recovery, he reflected on the effects of the diagnosis, “I had to go to hospital a couple of times. I was isolated from family for a very long period of time. It has been a long journey, but I’m really hoping that this disease will have a cure soon,” he added.
In the fight against COVID-19, the SANBS is one of a few international blood transfusion services embarking on this exciting research to determine if convalescent plasma, collected from recovered COVID-19 individuals, may help patients hospitalised with COVID-19. Currently, there is no proven treatment to improve the outcome for these patients. Convalescent plasma may potentially be one of the only treatment options that works, however this needs to be tested in clinical trials. A convalescent plasma donation is just like a standard plasma donation, the key difference being the need for a specific type of donor.
“I’ve been a regular donor for many years, and through my convalescent plasma that is full of antibodies, I hope I can help someone else,” Louw concluded.
The SANBS is well-positioned to collect this product as we already collect a similar product, source plasma, daily. We have written two research protocols, one to collect the plasma and one to issue the plasma to patients enrolled in a randomised phase 2 placebo-controlled blinded clinical trial. This is yet another area where we can be trusted to save lives.”
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