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Meta-Analysis
. 2022 Sep:122:332-336.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2022.06.014. Epub 2022 Jun 14.

Benefits of plasma exchange on mortality in patients with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Jinlv Qin  1 , Guizuo Wang  2 , Dong Han  3
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Benefits of plasma exchange on mortality in patients with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Jinlv Qin et al. Int J Infect Dis. 2022 Sep.

Abstract

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic continues, and the death toll continues to surge. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the efficacy of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) on mortality in patients with COVID-19.

Methods: A systematic search was made of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and clinicaltrials.gov, without language restrictions. Controlled clinical trials on treatment of COVID-19 with TPE, compared with standard of care, were reviewed. Studies were pooled according to risk ratios (RRs) and weighted mean differences, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results: A total of six trials (enrolling 343 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Therapeutic plasma exchange showed significant effect on mortality (RR 0.41, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.69; P = 0.0008).

Conclusion: TPE significantly reduced mortality in hospitalized patients with moderate-to-critical COVID-19. Plasma exchange therapy should be considered for patients with COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; Meta-analysis; Mortality; Plasma exchange.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest The authors have no competing interests to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart for selection of studies. aConsider, if feasible to do so, reporting the number of records identified from each database or register searched (rather than the total number across all databases/registers). bIf automation tools were used, indicate how many records were excluded by a human and how many were excluded by automation tools. From: Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, Boutron I, Hoffmann TC, Mulrow CD, et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ 2021;372:n71. doi: 10.1136/bmj.n71.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Forest plot assessing the efficacy of therapeutic plasma exchange on mortality.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Forest plot assessing the efficacy of therapeutic plasma exchange on length of ICU stay. ICU = intensive care unit.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Forest plot assessing the efficacy of therapeutic plasma exchange on duration of invasive mechanical ventilation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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