Antibodies From COVID-19 Survivors' Blood Could Help Cure Patients, Studies Say

The blood of people who have recovered from COVID-19 may help treat those who are currently suffering from it, findings suggest. Thus, the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) is appealing to COVID-19 survivors to donate blood.

“Ang mga pasyente pong ito [na] napatunayan na negative sa COVID-19 ay nagtataglay po ang kanilang dugo ng antibodies laban sa virus na ito,” Dr. Jonas Del Rosario, PGH spokesman, told GMA News.

Antibodies are proteins produced by the body that destroy disease-carrying organisms that enter the system, like a virus or a bacteria.

Based on a series of studies conducted in China, five COVID-19 patients aged 36 to 73 years old who had severe pneumonia showed improvement in clinical status after receiving this therapy, called convalescent plasma transfusion. The paper was published in The Journal of the American Medical Association in March 2020.

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Another study involved 10 patients who had severe cases of COVID-19. They all showed marked improvements in their condition 3 days after receiving convalescent plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients.

Convalescent plasma transfusion was also reportedly used to treat patients in severe condition in Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the disease.

On April 2, 2020, the PGH called on COVID-19 survivors in the country who are willing to donate blood which will be used to treat COVID-19 patients.

"Kami po ay naghahanap ng mga taong gumaling mula sa COVID-19 na nais mag-donate ng kanilang dugo na maaring makatulong sa ating mga pasyenteng may COVID-19," a post on its Facebook page reads.

Del Rosario assured the public that intensive screening measures will be done by the PGH, the first hospital in the country to attempt a convalescent plasma transfusion.

"Ang mga potential donors ay sisiguraduhing karapat-dapat, malusog, at naka-recover sa COVID-19. 

"Dadaan sila sa pagsusuri upang malaman kung wala silang ibang sakit at kung sila ay eligible na donor,” he said.

COVID-19 survivors who wish to donate blood to the PGH may get in touch with Dr. Sandy Maganito by calling or texting 0917-805-3207. 

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