Convalescent plasma not recommended to treat COVID-19, government panel says

[Nevilledog]

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/convalescent-plasma-not-recommended-treat-covid-19-government-panel-says-n1239025

There is no solid evidence for or against recommending convalescent plasma to treat patients hospitalized with COVID-19, a government panel said Tuesday, less than 10 days after the Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use of the treatment.

The COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel, part of the National Institutes of Health, said it had reviewed all of the available research on convalescent plasma, including the FDA's analysis that led to its emergency use authorization.

"There are currently no data from well-controlled, adequately powered randomized clinical trials that demonstrate the efficacy and safety of convalescent plasma for the treatment of COVID-19," the group wrote online.

Dr. Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in California, tweeted that it was an "important" statement. Topol has previously criticized the FDA's emergency use authorization for convalescent plasma.

Link to tweet

*snip*

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. Interesting.

We are up against something completely new here. The simple fact that people exposed range all the way from no symptoms at all to dying, is a clue. I only know a little bit about plasma being used to treat something, but it actually makes sense that with this disease it's not a very good thing.

Sigh.

I honestly think this may be the thing that eventually dooms our species to extinction. As if we aren't already doing lots of things that could accomplish extinction without this disease.

[SlogginThroughIt]

3. I dont think this virus is that potent

I don’t think this has the capability to wipe out our species. The death rate doesn’t seem high enough in my opinion. But viruses like this could definitely be a problem.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

4. You are right.

As serious as this is, the death rate is quite low. And the vast majority of people have no symptoms and are apparently completely unharmed by it.

[Nevilledog]

2. Kick