Convalescent plasma may not be an effective treatment for severe and critically ill covid-19 patients: A Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Yang, Penglei MD a, #; Wang, Jing MD b, #; Zheng, Ruiqiang MD b; Tan, Rui MD b; Li, Xianghui MD b; Liu, Xiaoyun MD c; Li, Yang B.S. c; Yuan, Zhenzhen B.S c; Wang, Yue B.S c; Chen, Qihong MD, PhD a; Yu, Jiangquan MD, PhD b, d, *
[Article] Heart & Lung: Journal of Acute & Critical Care. 53:51-60, May 2022.

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Background: Convalescent plasma treatment for severe and critically ill Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients remains controversial.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical improvement and mortality risk of convalescent plasma treatment in patients with severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Methods: A literature search was conducted in the electronic databases for the randomized controlled studies about convalescent plasma therapy in severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients. Two reviewers independently extracted relevant data. The primary outcomes were clinical improvement and mortality risk of severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients that were therapied by convalescent plasma.

Results: A total of 14 randomized controlled trials with 4543 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Compared to control, no significant difference was observed for either clinical improvement (6 studies, RR 1.07, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.17, p = 0.16, moderate certainty) or mortality risk (14 studies, RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.03, p= 0.18, low certainty) in patients of convalescent plasma therapy group.

Conclusion: Convalescent plasma did not increase the clinical improvement or reduce the mortality risk in the severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients.

(C) 2022Elsevier, Inc.