11.1 Treatment through convalescent plasma
Immunoglobulins or convalescent plasma had been used as a last weapon to
treat viral infections in past. Studies have revealed that the use of
convalescent plasma improves the health of patients as well as lowers
the rate of mortality than those who are not treated with
immunoglobulins.102-104 The use of convalescent plasma
was administered in 2014 by WHO for the treatment of Ebola-virus
disease.105 In 2015, immunoglobulins were also used
for the treatment of MERS-CoV.106 By using
immunoglobulins, immune response is developed in patients by 10 to 14
days.102 For the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia,
convalescent plasma was taken from recovered patients of COVID-19 and
transfused in infected patients of SARS-CoV-2.92