India drops plasma therapy as treatment for Covid-19 patients
News 24
As per the previous advisory, Remdesivir, Tocilizumab (off-label) and Convalescent plasma (Off label) were used for the treatment of COVID-19 patients, but now, only Remdesivir and Tocilizumab (off-label) can be used, sidelining plasma therapy.
The decision was taken after it was proven that the experiment procedure was found to be ineffective in treating the deadly disease. In the meeting, that was held last week, all senior officials, scientists and top doctors were in favour of removing plasma therapy from potential treatment to the viral disease that have claimed hundreds of thousands lives across the country. As per the previous advisory, Remdesivir, Tocilizumab (off-label) and Convalescent plasma (Off label) were used for the treatment of COVID-19 patients, but now, only Remdesivir and Tocilizumab (off-label) can be used, sidelining plasma therapy. Earlier, according to the ICMR advisory, the convalescent plasma (off-label) was considered only when the following criteria were met: Early moderate disease (preferably within 7 days of symptom onset, no use after 7 days) and availability of high titre donor plasma (Signal to cut-off ratio (S/O) >3.5 or equivalent depending on the test kit being used). The decision comes after many scientists wrote to Principal Scientific Advisor K Vijay Raghavan cautioning against the 'irrational and non-scientific' use of convalescent plasma for Covid-19 in India. "We are writing to you as concerned clinicians, public health professionals and scientists from India about the irrational and non-scientific use of convalescent plasma for COVID-19 in the country...This has stemmed from guidelines issued by government agencies, and we request your urgent intervention to address the issue which can prevent harassment of COVID-19 patients, their families, their clinicians and COVID-19 survivors," the letter read. Meanwhile, many volunteers, who have recently recovered from Covid-19, have been raising awareness for plasma donation, hoping it could help in progression of the disease.More Related News