Convalescent plasma in Covid-19: Possible mechanisms of action

Manuel Rojas, Yhojan Rodríguez, Diana M. Monsalve, Yeny Acosta-Ampudia, Bernardo Camacho, Juan Esteban Gallo, Adriana Rojas-Villarraga, Carolina Ramírez-Santana, Juan C. Díaz-Coronado, Rubén Manrique, Ruben D. Mantilla, Yehuda Shoenfeld, Juan Manuel Anaya

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

380 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Therapeutic options including antimalarials, antivirals, and vaccines are under study. Meanwhile the current pandemic has called attention over old therapeutic tools to treat infectious diseases. Convalescent plasma (CP) constitutes the first option in the current situation, since it has been successfully used in other coronaviruses outbreaks. Herein, we discuss the possible mechanisms of action of CP and their repercussion in COVID-19 pathogenesis, including direct neutralization of the virus, control of an overactive immune system (i.e., cytokine storm, Th1/Th17 ratio, complement activation) and immunomodulation of a hypercoagulable state. All these benefits of CP are expected to be better achieved if used in non-critically hospitalized patients, in the hope of reducing morbidity and mortality.

Original languageEnglish
Article number102554
JournalAutoimmunity Reviews
Volume19
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Author(s)

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

Keywords

  • ACE-2 receptor
  • COVID-19
  • Convalescent plasma
  • Coronavirus
  • Cytokines
  • Intravenous immunoglobulins
  • Neutralizing antibodies
  • SARS-Cov-2

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