This Is Why You Should Not Panic Looking For Plasma Or Remdesivir For COVID Positive Patients

Are you looking for blood plasma for a COVID positive family member? Are you worried about not finding a plasma donor in time? Do you think plasma therapy or Remdesivir is a sure shot treatment for coronavirus? If yes, it is important for you to note that experts believe this is not necessary.

Of late, social media platforms have been flooded with requests for plasma donation and Remdesivir, from the near ones of those who tested positive. Contrary to the common belief, it may have a role to play in certain cases but it¡¯s not for everybody.

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AIIMS chief's statement

All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) chief Dr Randeep Guleria on Monday (April 19) said that anti-viral Remdesivir and plasma therapy have a limited role to play in the treatment of COVID-19 infected patients and are not of much use.

During a press conference, the AIIMS director stressed that studies have shown that plasma therapy has a limited role and is not of much use. "Less than 2% COVID patients require Tocilizumab that's being used lot these days. Majority of patients with mild symptoms/asymptomatic will improve with just symptomatic treatment,¡± ANI quoted him as saying.

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Guleria clarified that steroids would not be helpful if provided on the first day of infection. ¡°Recovery trials showed that steroids will benefit but it's also important to know when they're given. If given early before your saturation (O2) falls, it has a harmful effect. COVID patients who got steroids early had higher mortality than those who didn't,¡± he stated.

¡°It is of no use if steroids are given on day one. They are useful only in moderate to severe illness when oxygen saturation is falling,¡± said Delhi AIIMS Director.

WHO's recommendation

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said there is still no evidence that plasma therapy is beneficial for coronavirus positive patients. The UN health agency came up with the recommendations in its guidelines titled "Clinical management of Covid-19: interim guidance" issued on May 27.

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"Existing published literature on the agents listed above is mostly observational in nature, with few clinical trials; and does not provide high-quality evidence in favour of any of these agents," it said.

The WHO said it is against the use of antibiotic therapy or prophylaxis for suspected or confirmed mild Covid-19 patients. In the case for suspected or confirmed moderate Covid-19, antibiotics should not be prescribed unless there is clinical suspicion of a bacterial infection, it said.

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Delhi doctors' comment

So why are the hospitals recommending plasma therapy or Remdesivir for Covid-19 patients? ¡°These are no magic bullets,¡± said Dr Neeraj Nischal, associate professor in the department of medicine, AIIMS Delhi.

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¡°There is a frenzy created around Remdesivir. It¡¯s been seen in various trials that it doesn¡¯t have mortality benefits and is not needed by everyone. It¡¯s only for selected patients, with early oxygen requirements. It may have a role in such circumstances, but there¡¯s a question mark over that as well. There¡¯s no need to rush for Remdesivir. The same goes for plasma therapy. It¡¯s not for everybody. This message should be loud and clear.¡±