Abstract

Introduction
Soon after the start of the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, in the absence of a vaccine and specific treatments, the collection and storage of plasma from donors who had had COVID-19 was considered promising for evaluation in clinical studies or as a starting material for the manufacture of experimental anti-SARS-CoV-2 hyperimmune immunoglobulins1. Early non-randomised studies2-5 suggested the safety and potential efficacy of transfusions of COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) as a treatment for hospitalised patients. Driven by these observations, extensive donation campaigns were implemented, and many patients started to be treated worldwide, in the context of expanded access programmes. However, the initial enthusiasm was tempered as good quality randomised trials and systematic reviews were published. It is now agreed that CCP treatment, although safe, is ineffective for the treatment of most hospitalised COVID-19 patients. [ ... ]

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Authors

Daniele Prati - Department of Transfusion Medicine and Haematology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy

Francesco Fiorin - Department of Transfusion Medicine, ULSS 8 Berica, Vicenza, Italy

Pierluigi Berti - Immunohaematology and Transfusion Medicine, "Umberto Parini" Hospital, Aosta, Italy

Giustina De Silvestro - Blood Transfusion Service, University Hospital of Padua, Padua, Italy

Patrizia Accorsi - Department of Haematology, Transfusion Medicine and Biotechnologies, "S. Spirito" Hospital, Pescara, Italy

Angelo Ostuni - Transfusion Medicine Unit, University-Hospital Policlinico, Bari, Italy

on behalf of the Italian Society for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohaematology (SIMTI), and the Italian Society for Haemapheresis and Cell Manipulation (SIdEM)

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