New corona therapy with blood plasma in Erlangen

A study is currently starting at the University Clinic in Erlangen, and there are many hopes for it. Since the beginning of the pandemic in March of last year, people who have suffered a corona infection have been donating blood there. The plasma obtained from this with its antibodies is administered to seriously ill Covid 19 patients with acute courses.

Genesis patients are in great demand

The blood of recovered Covid-19 patients is very valuable. After an infection, it contains important components of the immune system, antibodies that can successfully fight the virus. The University Clinic Erlangen was one of the first hospitals in Germany to use this method last April and received approval for the production of therapeutic plasma.

Call for plasma donations

Plasma is the name given to the liquid part of the blood from which all cells have been removed in a special process. This means that there are no dangerous blood intolerances during transfusions that otherwise arise from the blood group. Since then, numerous recovered Covid patients in Erlangen have responded to the call for plasma donation. You must use 2 PCR tests to prove that you have survived the infection, have been symptom-free for four weeks and have antibodies in your own blood. One or two patients can be treated with a donation of 600 to 800 milliliters. Some Covid-19 patients have already been treated successfully at the University Hospital Erlangen.

According to previous observations, researchers are confident

The successes achieved so far with so-called convalescence plasma make the researchers at the Erlangen University Hospital optimistic. Now they want to develop an effective standard therapy for the treatment of seriously ill corona patients in a broad study. So far, they can only treat the symptoms, but not successfully treat Covid-19.

The first study of its kind in Germany

Specialists from various disciplines from Erlangen in Nuremberg are taking part in the first study of its kind in Germany. Medical computer scientists even want to use artificial intelligence to accelerate their studies. The study is co-financed by the Free State and has received approval from the responsible Paul Ehrlich Institute.

It differs significantly from the studies carried out so far. On the one hand, at least 3 preparations should be used per patient and the number of transfusions should be increased to up to six. The Erlangen researchers hope that this will lead to better results.

Lower death rate

If the experiences made so far are confirmed and the targeted therapy proves to be safe, it could be approved as standard therapy. Should it be used, the mortality rate can be significantly reduced. The Erlangen researchers expect the first results towards the end of the year.

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