Nagpur: Shreenath, a first-year MBBS student at Panjabrao Deshmukh Medical College at Amravati, last Saturday travelled to Nagpur after he received a call for convalescent plasma donation. A recovered Covid patient, 18-year-old Shreenath is probably one of the youngest plasma donors in the region. On learning about his plan, Shreenath’s father Prafulla Sabale too joined him and offered to donate plasma.
Sabale, who is Nagpur University director of examinations and evaluation board, had been vaccinated recently and hence couldn’t donate his plasma. “We realized there is shortage of plasma though it can help save lives,” said Sabale, who is also a professor of pharmaceutical sciences.
While effectiveness of plasma remains a debatable issue, Covid hospitals are widely prescribing it as an alternative therapy for moderate to severe patients in Nagpur. However, the doubts, different medical opinions and ICMR’s disclaimer seem to have deterred citizens from bleeding to save lives. Blood banks say while the rush of patients is going up, there is acute shortage of donors.
Dr Mohan Nerker, one of the directors of Seven Star Hospital, said they have not used plasma so far. “Anyways, it should be used within seven days of symptoms. After 9 days, virus replication is over while plasma is used as an anti-viral. Also, receptor binding domain (RBD) plasma, which has antibody titre 1/640, is effective. Studies have shown plasma doesn’t work once virus manifestation is severe, and there is no mortality benefit. There is also risk of transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI),” he said.
KRIMS director and pulmonologist Dr Ashok Arbat said they used to give plasma but didn’t get good results. “Personally, I feel it is not of much use. There are different views but overall there is no standard treatment protocol,” he said.
Satyam Singh, public relations officer at Arpan Blood Bank, which is sponsored by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), said people are not convinced to donate. “When we call them up, they say they fear getting infected again, and going through same problems. This fear psychosis has affected blood donations too,” he said.
Singh added that the demand for convalescent plasma is huge and many doctors are using remdesivir as well as plasma therapy. “Since the remdesivir injection is not available, doctors are most probably prescribing convalescent plasma,” he said.
As per earlier guidelines, a recovered patient can donate plasma after 28 days of infection. A screening for antibody is done, followed by checking saturation, pulse, BP, temperature. “Only if the donor is healthy, the plasma is taken,” Singh said.
Infectious disease specialist Dr Ashwini Tayade too said people are afraid of getting exposed. But she said, “It is a misconception that it works, there is no supporting scientific data.”