CLEVELAND — University Hospitals has added convalescent plasma donations to its experimental treatment of COVID-19, participating in a study to determine the effects of the treatment.
Individuals who recover from the virus have antibodies in their blood and it is theorized that patients who have complications from the virus may be able to recover quicker if they receive plasma that contains those antibodies that can help fight it off, University Hospitals said.
Blood donations are being accepted locally through the American Red Cross from recovered COVID-19 patients cleared from the disease with known antibodies in their plasma.
Patients involved in the experimental treatment must be hospitalized with the virus and experiencing serious complications such as myocardial injury, UH said.
“UH now adds convalescent plasma as another experimental trial available to help patients in Northeast Ohio,” said Dr. Eiran Gorodeski, an internist and cardiologist at UH Cleveland Medical Center. “UH is at the forefront of experimental treatments including remdesivir, stem cell therapy and now convalescent plasma. Patients suffering from extreme complications of COVID-19 have hope at UH thanks to these options.”
University Hospitals is one of just three sites across the state of Ohio participating in the study and the only location in Northeast Ohio offering enrollment in the study.
Recovered COVID-19 patients looking to donate plasma can click here to learn more.
