Antibodies from the blood of Corona, who had been cured in the fight against COVID-19
Despite intensive research there is still no effective therapy against the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Therefore, it is resorted to, the blood plasma of people who have already survived a SARS-CoV-2 infection. This Plasma contains antibodies against the pathogen. This can be hard to be sick helped.
A therapy against COVID-19 there is not currently. Scientists in the review of existing drugs for their effectiveness and do research on vaccines. A further possibility is bodies the therapy with anti, derived from the blood plasma of Recovering. Anyone who has survived a Coronavirus infection and enough antibodies against the pathogen in the blood, it can help with a blood and plasma donation seriously ill patients.
Plasma production has begun
As the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University of Bonn, writes in a recent communication, could antibodies from the blood of convalescent COVID patients-19-and -help patients to save lives.
The University hospital of Bonn has recently received, together with some other facilities in Germany, the official permission to convalescent Plasma for the treatment of seriously ill COVID-19-patients and in -patients and to apply.
Thanks to a large number of Donation and after extensive preparation in a short period of time, could now begin in the Plasma production on the Campus-the hill of Venus.
There is currently no approved drugs
“For the treatment of Covid-19-patients with severe forms of the disease there are no approved drugs. We are in a quasi empty-handed,“ explains Prof. Christian Putensen, head of the Operational intensive medicine at the University hospital of Bonn to initiate the Motivation along with the blood donation service of the production of convalescent Plasma.
Recovered COVID-19-patients and in -patients have been able to align developed antibodies against the novel Coronavirus, the highly concentrated the immune system of seriously ill patients and patients on COVID-19-pathogens.
Because of the very specific proteins according to the experts, the body recognizes the invader and fought. As the communication explains, point to the first case examples of the fact that the administration of antibodies can be genesener COVID-19-Affected in case of a serious course to be effective.
The principle of passive immunization is not new, but already in 1890, was designed as a healing method against diphtheria by Emil von Behring and has since been used also, for example, in the case of the Spanish flu and Ebola.
Positive response to call for blood plasma donation
“We would like to thank all of you for the overwhelming response to our call to re-convalescent Covid-19-patients via Facebook very warm welcome”, Prof. Dr. Johannes Oldenburg, Director of the Institute for Experimental Haematology and transfusion medicine, University hospital Bonn, Germany.
Reported to have help placed, within a short period of time about 350 people at the blood donation service of the University hospital of Bonn, who are willing to work with your Plasma severely ill people. In all, it is checked whether they are suitable as a Donor.
“In addition to the General criteria of a positive Test on the Corona must be Virus during the disease, and a recent negative smear our company doctor”, explains private lecturer Dr. Heiko Rühl, senior physician at the University of Bonn, Institut of Experimental Hematology and transfusion medicine.
Blood plasma donation takes about three quarters of an hour, and is the same as in the production of coagulation active plasma preparations. The in the blood plasma contained specific antibodies against the COVID be obtained-19-pathogens, together with the Plasma by means of a plasmapheresis device, from the blood.
“Currently sufficiently convalescent Covid-19 patients are available for this purpose. The plasma generation is at least as long as the alternatives take place to equivalent Therapy available, and we therefore look forward in the coming months about further donation consent“, Professor Oldenburg.
Possible side effects are manageable
The doctors at the University hospital in Bonn want to help with the project, which is similar to other University hospitals started in Germany, to achieve in severe cases of a COVID-19-condition is a significant improvement.
“While the potential Benefit seems to be higher than the risks, because of the possible side effects are manageable and easy to handle,” explains Prof. Putensen.
The Bonn-based Doctors and Doctors do not want patients the sure produced plasma products is Intense and patients with therapeutically, but the effects also closely clinically and immunologically check. So the question of the right timing of passive immunization in the room is still.
“Together with the Institute of innate immunity, we want to look at in addition, the individual immune response and clarify the question as to why some patients have a severe course, and others are not,” explains in turn, a private lecturer Dr. Folkert Steinhagen, managing senior physician of the surgical intensive care at the University hospital in Bonn.
– Giving may have been four weeks, no symptoms
According to the communication, sufficiently convalescent COVID-19-patients and in-patients are currently available. Because the plasma generation will take place over several months, pleased with the blood donation service in the coming months about further donation willing.
It is a prerequisite that the Donor for the last four weeks, no symptoms of COVID-19-disease, and the Coronavirus is not in a nose-throat swab detectable.
For more information on blood donation here. (ad)