Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia– Convalescent Plasma Therapy is now reverberated as an alternative therapy to treat positive patients with Covid-19 is actually not new. This therapy has been used since a century ago to treat many diseases, including diphtheria.
Discussing this matter, dr. Erlina Burhan, Sp.P (K), M.Sc., Ph.D, Pulmonary Specialist at the Friendship Hospital (RSUP) Friendship, revealed the long journey of convalescent therapy (convalescent) until now again heard.
“This Konvalesen Plasma Therapy is a therapy that has been around for a long time, namely since the 1900s. So it has been used for diseases such as diphtheria, SARS, MERS, and bird flu. It’s just that, it is still limited to clinical trials. Likewise with Covid “19 is used in many countries but is limited to clinical trials,” Erlina said through digital space on Friday (6/26).
Erlina who was included in the Expert Team of the National Task Force doctors also said that many countries had used conventional plasma therapy with fairly good results and were quite effective. However, the success of therapies that have been carried out in many countries is still limited to the small number of patients.
Therefore, at this time the United States of America itself is conducting testing of convalescent plasma therapy to patients in large numbers, but still has not officially released publications related to it.
“For example in China, there are 4 studies that reported clinical trials, but unfortunately the patients are still small. There are done to 5 patients, 10 patients, 6 patients, and even only 2 patients in Korea,” said Erlina.
Convalescent therapy in Indonesia itself, is currently still in the stage of clinical trials on COVID-19 positive patients with severe symptoms. Erlina said that several hospitals (RS), including the Friendship Hospital, were ready and would immediately conduct trials related to this therapy.
“There are actually many hospitals that are conducting clinical trials (convalescent plasma), such as RSPAD, RSCM, and at this time the Friendship Hospital,” said Erlina who is also a Lung Specialist Doctor at the Friendship Hospital.
“The proposal has passed the ethical test and it has also been announced to our patients (Friendship Hospital), if there are volunteers who donate to patients who are sick. At present we (Friendship Hospital) have found several donors. It was enough and met match between the blood of the donor and our patients so that we will immediately give it, “said Erlina regarding conventional plasma therapy at the Friendship Hospital.
Although the clinical trials carried out are still limited to the small number of patients, Erlina stated that it still cannot draw a firm conclusion that this convalescent plasma therapy can be used as a routine treatment for patients positive for COVID-19. Nevertheless, the medical experts in the National Task Force unit hope this can be an alternative cure until the vaccine is found.
Erlina also emphasized that if there were alternative treatments such as the Convalescent Plasma Therapy for example, various parties would certainly support it. However, the most important thing right now is how to each individual to take preventative measures, because Covid-19 is still not found a cure.
Therefore, he also underlined that preventive actions by complying with established health protocols are the best steps that can now be taken.
