PGH Has HIGH Hopes on Plasma therapy
THE convalescent plasma therapy has “a little bit over 60 percent batting average” in treating severely-ill Covid-19 patients, the University of the Philippines-philippine General Hospital (PGH) said.
In a virtual press conference, Dr. Jonas del Rosario, PGH spokesman, said that the treatment is one of the ways they are resorting to in a bid to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
The plasma therapy was done on nine patients at PGH, one in Manila Doctors Hospital, and two patients in Asian Hospital and Medical Center.
“For PGH, four are doing well: one out of ICU [intensive care unit], while three are still in the ICU but their conditions are improving,”del Rosario said.
He, however, revealed that two of the patients have died in PGH.
“At Manila Doctors Hospital a [former] senator got plasma [treatment] but unfortunately he was not able to make it,” he said, adding that the patient had comorbidities or preexisting medical conditions that give rise to complications. He was referring to former Senator Heherson Alvarez, who succumbed to Covid-19 on April 20.
Meanwhile, the two other Covid-19 patients in Asian Hospital and Medical Center “are doing okay,” said Del Rosario.
Asked about the sucess rate based on the initial observation on patients administered with the plasma therapy, he said it is “a little bit over 60 percent batting average” of success rate, with six of nine patients doing well.
“We are still hopeful because there is no approved treatment for Covid-19,”he said, adding that all of the drugs given to Covid-19 patients “are all experimental.”
Plasma therapy has been tried and tested on numerous illnesses, most recently for diseases such as Ebola, SARS, MERSCOV and Swine Flu.
The therapy, given only to severely-ill Covid-19 patients here in the country, involves the transfusion of plasma, the liquid component of blood, from a recovered patient to confirmed patient.
He clarified that plasma therapy done in PGH is free.
Plasma donations
THE PGH said, while the situation is improving— based on the latest number of recoveries from the case bulletin of the Department of Health —“there is still much to do.”the DOH announced that as of April 22, there are 39 new recoveries. This brings the total number of recoveries to 693.
“Filipinos continue to suffer and some eventually die from Covid-19 everyday. There is no proven treatment yet for this, although different medications and regimens are being investigated. And the vaccine against the novel coronavirus is not yet available,” Del Rosario said.
That is why, he said, the PGH is calling for plasma donations from Covid-19 survivors.
“Their antibodies may help save patients who are still battling the disease, especially the severe and critical cases,” he added.
Much like other organizations around the world, the PGH sees plasma therapy as a possible stop-gap to hold the virus at bay while more complex treatments are developed.
“A vaccine is a year out, but what if we can use the antibodies of those who have already survived to strengthen the immune system of those still battling the virus,” said Del Rosario.
Since beginning the experimental treatment very recently, the PGH has received over 90, with more than 21 passing the criteria and at least 19 having already donated plasma.
“Right now, we are taking care of over 100 Covid-19 patients in the PGH, and some of those are severe and critical cases who have exhausted all other treatment options with no success. For them, plasma therapy could be the last resort. That’s why we’re looking for more donors,” said Del Rosario.
The plasma donation process for Covid-19 survivors is fairly straightforward, he said.
When a prospective donor calls the PGH hotline (155-200), he or she is first evaluated over the phone.
Once found eligible to donate, PGH personnel will conduct a home visit to get informed consent and a blood sample.
After that, the donor is invited to the College of Medicine in UP Manila to donate.
Del Rosario appealed to the patients who have recovered from the disease to donate and help to save lives.
Some of the recovered patients are afraid because of “fear and anxiety of discrimination,” he said, but he called on them “to rise above the stigma of the disease and be a hero by giving their plasma and give it those who are still batlling with Covid-19.