Plasma therapy dropped as treatment for Covid-19

The previous guidelines recommended off-label use of plasma therapy at the stage of early moderate disease

The Centre on Monday dropped use of plasma therapy from its Covid-19 treatment protocol easing the life for scores of patients' family members who often have to run from pillar to post searching for plasma.

The joint monitoring group of the Union Health Ministry comprising experts from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, here, and ICMR National Task Force revised the clinical guidance for management of adult Covid-19 and dropped off-label use of convalescent plasma, health ministry sources said.

The government decision follows after several research studies failed to find out any additional benefits of using convalescent plasma while treating moderate or serious Covid-19 patients.

The first such study was the PLACID trial conducted by the ICMR involving 39 public and private hospitals across India.

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It found no difference in 28-day mortality or progression to severe disease among patients with moderate Covid-19 treated with convalescent plasma.

Another major study known as Recovery trial came up with the same conclusion.

Last week a group of researchers wrote to the Principal Scientific Advisor asking him to review the treatment guidelines on plasma therapy in the absence of any scientific evidence as it significantly adds to the harassment faced by the patient family.

Experts at the ICMR also deliberated on plasma therapy and reviewed the scientific evidence as the therapy was being prescribed rampantly across hospitals in India, sources said.

In the revised guidelines, off level use of Tocilizumab and emergency use of Remdesivir have been retained.

The guidelines also allow continuing with the use of ivermectin and HCQ tablets for mild disease even though there is scant scientific evidence on the benefits of both medicines, repurposed for Covid-19 patients.