[A patient with severe COVID-19 treated with convalescent plasma]

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 can lead to life-threatening disease. While awaiting vaccines or documented specific therapeutic agents, several alternative treatment options are under investigation. This is a case report of the first COVID-19 patient treated with convalescent plasma in Norway.

Case presentation: A patient with severe COVID-19 on prolonged mechanical ventilation, who was PCR SARS-Cov-2 positive on day 22, was transfused with convalescent plasma on day 31 and tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 the following day. The patient gradually improved and was weaned from the ventilator and discharged alive from the ICU on day 63.

Interpretation: This case report concerns one patient with clinical improvement after convalescent plasma transfusion. A SARS-CoV-2 test was not performed immediately before transfusion and the complexity of intensive care treatment makes it difficult to draw any conclusions on the potential effectiveness of this treatment. However, this case report is encouraging with regard to planned trials with convalescent plasma.