Successful treatment of a centenarian with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) using convalescent plasma

Yujie Kong; Chen Cai; Li Ling; Li Zeng; Meihong Wu; Yanyun Wu; Wei Zhang; Zhong Liu

doi:10.1016/j.transci.2020.102820

Successful treatment of a centenarian with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) using convalescent plasma

Transfus Apher Sci. 2020 Oct;59(5):102820. doi: 10.1016/j.transci.2020.102820. Epub 2020 May 21.

Authors

Yujie Kong¹, Chen Cai², Li Ling¹, Li Zeng³, Meihong Wu⁴, Yanyun Wu⁵, Wei Zhang⁶, Zhong Liu⁷

Affiliations

¹ Clinical Transfusion Research Center, Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 610052, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, PR China; Key laboratory of transfusion adverse reactions, CAMS, 610052, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, PR China.
² Department of Special Clinic, First affiliated hospital, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, Shanghai, PR China; Guanggu District, the Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, 430070, Wuhan, Hubei Province, PR China.
³ Guanggu District, the Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, 430070, Wuhan, Hubei Province, PR China; Department of Organ Transplantation, First affiliated hospital, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, Shanghai, PR China.
⁴ Guanggu District, the Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, 430070, Wuhan, Hubei Province, PR China; Department of oncology, First affiliated hospital, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, Shanghai, PR China.
⁵ University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States.
⁶ Guanggu District, the Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, 430070, Wuhan, Hubei Province, PR China; Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, First affiliated hospital, the Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, Shanghai, PR China. Electronic address: zhangweismmu@126.com.
⁷ Clinical Transfusion Research Center, Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 610052, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, PR China; Key laboratory of transfusion adverse reactions, CAMS, 610052, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, PR China. Electronic address: liuz@ibt.pumc.edu.cn.

Abstract

Background: Because treatment options for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are very limited, the use of convalescent plasma has bee explored.

Case presentation and treatment: A male centenarian with cough and dyspnea for 2 months was diagnosed with COVID-19. Without effective treatments and with the increased risks of antiviral therapy for the elderly, this patient was given convalescent plasma. The viral load, complete blood count, inflammatory indicators, vital signs, and clinical symptoms were observed before and after COVID-19 convalescent plasma transfusion.

Results: After convalescent plasma transfusion, significant improvement was observed on laboratory indicators and clinical symptoms of the patient. Concurrently, SARS-CoV-2 viral load decreased sharply after the first transfusion (from 2.55 × 104 to 1.39 × 103 copies/mL) and became undetectable after the second transfusion.

Conclusions: With the substantial increase of COVID-19 in recent months,treatment for elderly patients has become restricted in some countries. The successful treatment of this 100-year-old patient using convalescent plasma suggests that we should consider adding convalescent plasma in th management of the elderly.

Keywords: Coronavirus Disease 2019; convalescent plasma; transfusion.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Aged, 80 and over
COVID-19 / immunology
COVID-19 / therapy*
COVID-19 Serotherapy
Humans
Immunization, Passive
Male
Patient Admission
SARS-CoV-2 / physiology
Treatment Outcome