Convalescent plasma - Is it useful for treating SARS Co-V2 infection?

SARS-CoV-2 and Plasma Hypercoagulability

Hypercoagulability has emerged as a prominent consequence of COVID-19. This presents challenges not only in the clinic, but also in thrombosis research. Health and safety considerations, the status of the blood and plasma supply, the infection status of individual donors, and the mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 activates coagulation are all of concern. In this review, we discuss these topics from the basic research perspective. As in other respiratory illnesses, blood and plasma from COVID-19 positive patients carries minimal to no risk of infection to practitioners or researchers. There are currently no special regulatory mandates directing individual donors (for research purposes), blood centers/services or vendors (for blood products for research) to test blood/plasma for SARS-CoV-2 or antibodies. We discuss current theories about how SARS-CoV-2 leads to hyper-coagulant state in severe cases of COVID-19. Our current understanding of the mechanisms behind COVID-19 associated thromboembolic events have centered around three different pathways: (1) direct activation of platelets, enhancing coagulation; (2) direct infection and indirect activation (e.g. cytokine storm) of endothelial cells by SARS-CoV-2, shifting endothelium from an anti-thrombotic to a pro-thrombotic state; and (3) direct activation of complement pathways, promoting thrombin generation. Further investigation on how SARS-CoV-2 affects thrombosis in COVID-19 patients may bring novel anti-thrombotic therapies to combat the disease.

Impact of both socioeconomic level and occupation on antibody prevalence to SARS-CoV-2 in an Egyptian cohort: The first episode

We studied the impact of socioeconomic level on the anti-SARS-CoV-2-antibodies prevalence in an Egyptian cohort. The low socioeconomic standard group (LSS) included 51 humans, 30 females (F) and 21 males (M). The high socioeconomic standard group (HSS) included 55 subjects, 24 F and 31 M. Of the 30 LSSF, 6 were immunoglobulin M (IgM), 21 immunoglobulin G (IgG), and 6 double positive. Of the 21 LSSM, 5 were IgM, 12 IgG, and 5 double positive. Of the 24 HSSF, 6 were IgM, 11 IgG, and 5 double positive. Of the 31 HSSM, 6 were IgM, 14 IgG, and 4 double positive. Of the 51 LSS humans, 26 were symptomatic (S) and 25 asymptomatic (AS). Of the 26 S, 20 were IgG and 8 IgM/IgG double positive. Of the 25 AS, 13 were IgG and 3 IgM/IgG double positive. Of the 55 HSS humans, 38 were S and 17 AS. Of the 38S, 24 were IgG and 11 IgM positive of whom, 9 were double positive. Of the 17 AS, one was IgG and one IgM positive. The IgM prevalence was higher among the HSS humans. The IgG prevalence was significantly higher among the LSS humans. In the two different socioeconomic standards, the prevalence of either IgM or IgG was higher among F. An inverse correlation was observed between age and the anti-SARS-CoV-2-antibodies prevalence except for LSSF-IgG and LSSM-IgM. In conclusion, socioeconomic standard, gender, and age impact humoral responses to SARS-CoV-2 with a clear heterogeneity in individualized responses to the infection in terms of symptoms.