TY - JOUR
T1 - Convalescent plasma therapy in COVID-19
T2 - Unravelling the data using the principles of antibody therapy
AU - Casadevall, Arturo
AU - Joyner, Michael J.
AU - Pirofski, Liise Anne
AU - Senefeld, Jonathon W.
AU - Shoham, Shmuel
AU - Sullivan, David
AU - Paneth, Nigel
AU - Focosi, Daniele
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Introduction: When the COVID-19 pandemic struck no specific therapies were available and many turned to COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP), a form of antibody therapy. The literature provides mixed evidence for CCP efficacy. Areas covered: PubMed was searched using the words COVID-19 and convalescent plasma and individual study designs were evaluated for adherence to the three principles of antibody therapy, i.e. that plasma 1) contain specific antibody; 2) have enough specific antibody to mediate a biological effect; and 3) be administered early in the course of disease. Using this approach, a diverse and seemingly contradictory collection of clinical findings was distilled into a consistent picture whereby CCP was effective when used according to the above principles of antibody therapy. In addition, CCP therapy in immunocompromised patients is useful at any time in the course of disease. Expert opinion: CCP is safe and effective when used appropriately. Today, most of humanity has some immunity to SARS-CoV-2 from vaccines and infection, which has lessened the need for CCP in the general population. However, COVID-19 in immunocompromised patients is a major therapeutic challenge, and with the deauthorization of all SARS-CoV-2-spike protein-directed monoclonal antibodies, CCP is the only antibody therapy available for this population.
AB - Introduction: When the COVID-19 pandemic struck no specific therapies were available and many turned to COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP), a form of antibody therapy. The literature provides mixed evidence for CCP efficacy. Areas covered: PubMed was searched using the words COVID-19 and convalescent plasma and individual study designs were evaluated for adherence to the three principles of antibody therapy, i.e. that plasma 1) contain specific antibody; 2) have enough specific antibody to mediate a biological effect; and 3) be administered early in the course of disease. Using this approach, a diverse and seemingly contradictory collection of clinical findings was distilled into a consistent picture whereby CCP was effective when used according to the above principles of antibody therapy. In addition, CCP therapy in immunocompromised patients is useful at any time in the course of disease. Expert opinion: CCP is safe and effective when used appropriately. Today, most of humanity has some immunity to SARS-CoV-2 from vaccines and infection, which has lessened the need for CCP in the general population. However, COVID-19 in immunocompromised patients is a major therapeutic challenge, and with the deauthorization of all SARS-CoV-2-spike protein-directed monoclonal antibodies, CCP is the only antibody therapy available for this population.
KW - COVID-19
KW - SARS-CoV-2
KW - antibody
KW - convalescent plasma
KW - immune therapy
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U2 - 10.1080/17476348.2023.2208349
DO - 10.1080/17476348.2023.2208349
M3 - Review article
C2 - 37129285
AN - SCOPUS:85158866485
SN - 1747-6348
VL - 17
SP - 381
EP - 395
JO - Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine
JF - Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine
IS - 5
ER -