Treatment of B-cell depleted COVID-19 patients with convalescent plasma and plasma-based products

Kenig, Ariel; Ishay, Yuval; Kharouf, Fadi; Rubin, Limor

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infected patients, receiving background anti-CD20 therapy, were treated with convalescent plasma or plasma-based products. Eight patients were included in the study, presenting with prolonged disease course and delayed viral clearance. CP/plasma-based products were offered as an add-on therapy to standard medical treatment. All patients showed remarkable clinical and laboratory improvement. In addition, polymerase chain reaction from nasopharyngeal swabs rapidly converted to negative following plasma administration. This study emphasizes the therapeutic efficacy of convalescent plasma and plasma-based products in a subgroup of immunocompromised patients with iatrogenic B-cell depletion.