PLACID Trials: convalescent plasma therapy shows no positive effects
Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Science and Technology
In news
Recently, the PLACID Trial, a multicentre randomized controlled trial (RCT), has shown that convalescent plasma (CP) therapy for Covid-19 patients gave no positive effects and did not improve the outcome of the patients.
Key takeaways of the trial
The trial results indicate that there was no difference in the 28-day mortality.
Progression of Covid-19 from moderate to severe in patients treated with CP along with basic standard care had no difference when compared to basic standard care alone.
The use of CP seemed to improve the resolution of shortness of breath and fatigue in patients with moderate Covid-19. However, this did not translate into a reduction in 28-day mortality or progression to severe disease.
The ICMR is now considering removing the option of CPT from the national guidelines.
Important value additions
Convalescent Plasma Therapy
Convalescent Plasma, extracted from the blood of patients recovering from an infection, is a source of antibodies against the infection.
The therapy uses blood from people who have recovered from an illness to help others recover.
Blood donated by people who have recovered from Covid-19 has antibodies to the virus that causes it.
The donated blood is processed to remove blood cells, leaving behind liquid (plasma) and antibodies. These can be given to people with Covid-19 to boost their ability to fight the virus.
The plasma donor would have to be a documented case of Covid-19 and healthy for 28 days since the last symptoms.
PLACID Trial
It was conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Aim: To investigate CPT’s effectiveness for the treatment of Covid-19.
It is the first and largest randomised control trial to be completed in the world.
Do you know?
RCT is a trial in which subjects are randomly assigned to one of two groups.
One (the experimental group) receiving the intervention that is being tested, and the other (the comparison group or control) receiving an alternative (conventional) treatment.
