On Tuesday, the health ministry stated that it has not approved plasma therapy for treatment of coronavirus and the therapy is used only for research and trial purposes till there is strong scientific evidence to support its effectiveness.

This announcement has surprised as few private hospitals have already used plasma or immune therapy on patients who required higher respiratory support. Delhi’s Max Saket hospital had recently claimed success with a middle-aged patient but the plasma therapy method failed to save the person’s father who in his late 80s.

The Centre’s observations specify that the treatment might carry an unacceptable risk. Lav Agarwal, joint secretary in the health ministry, said that if the plasma is not administered properly, then can become life-threatening. Trials involving plasma therapy will continue with ICMR until more clinical evidence.

The government’s practical prohibition of plasma therapy as a line of treatment had come when several states feel that it might be a promising route. Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Karnataka have already sought permission from ICMR to treat critically-ill coronavirus patients with this plasma therapy.

Agarwal further said that ICMR has launched a national-level study to assess the efficacy of plasma therapy in the treatment of coronavirus. Till the time, ICMR completes its study and a strong scientific proof is available, plasma therapy should be used for research or trial purpose only. Plasma therapy should be used in a proper manner with appropriate guidelines, or else it can cause life-threatening complications.

The US FDA has approved the use of plasma therapy for experimental purposes only and not to be used for treatment. International studies are currently under way on several therapies with plasma therapy being one of them.

Source: ET Healthworld