Therapeutic potential of plasma exchange (TPE), systemic corticosteroids and, interferon for severe COVID-۱۹ disease: A non-randomized controlled trial study

Background: Since ۲۰۱۹, the SARS-CoV-۲ virus has spread systematically, causing extensive immune responses and significant damage to other organs. This study is a non-randomized, open-labeled, prospective clinical trial, conducted to evaluate the therapeutic potential of plasma exchange (TPE) on critically COVID-۱۹ patients. Methods: This study is a single-center, clinical trial that was performed at Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Qom University of Medical Sciences, from March to June ۲۰۲۰. A total of ۶۰ patients with a serious or life-threatening infection of COVID-۱۹ were included in the study. Patients in the intervention group (۳۰ patients) received systemic corticosteroids and interferon and TPE were performed for them. Results: Of ۶۰ patients who were studied, ۴۸% of them died and about ۵۲% were discharged. Mortality was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (۲۰% vs. ۷۷%, respectively). The severity of the disease was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (۲۰% vs. ۷۷%, respectively), as median days of hospitalization and ICU admission were higher in the intervention group than in the control group. No side effects were seen in the intervention group in the first ۷۲ hours after TPE. Conclusion: Results show that TPE can offer longer lifeline, and low mortality rate in critically COVID-۱۹ patients. Therefore, we recommend that TPE, systemic corticosteroids and, interferon along with other standard treatments, can be used as a part of the treatment protocol for critically COVID-۱۹ patients.

Keywords:

COVID-۱۹ , plasma exchange , corticosteroids , interferon , hospitalization , mortality rate