After Delhi, Bengaluru Hospital To Conduct Plasma Therapy Trials On Coronavirus Patients

Bengaluru is all set to test plasma therapy as a treatment option for those infected with the coronavirus. Delhi which is one of the hotspots of coronavirus in the country has just recently completed plasma therapy tests with four Covid-19 patients.

(Representative Image/ Getty)

New Delhi: Bengaluru is all set to test plasma therapy as a treatment option for those infected with the coronavirus. According to an IANS report, city hospital BMC Victoria Hospital will access the effectiveness of the therapy on Covid-19 patients today. In Convalescent plasma therapy, the liquid part of blood is collected from patients who are cured of infection as it contains antibodies that might help fight the infection. This plasma is then injected onto an infected person. Use of convalescent plasma was also studied in outbreaks of other respiratory infections, including the 2009-2010 H1N1 influenza virus pandemic, 2003 SARS-CoV-1 epidemic, and the 2012 MERS-CoV epidemic. Karnataka Health Minister B. Sriramulu had announced the decision on Friday and had also tweeted about it. "BMC Victoria hospital will take the first step for the project (convalescent plasma treatment trials on Covid-19 patients) on Saturday at 8 a.m." The Health Minister said Karnataka is taking a lead role to test the efficiency of the therapy. "Proud to inform you all that Karnataka is taking a lead role to initiate Phase-I clinical trials to use convalescent plasma therapy for severe COVID infected patients," Sriramulu said.

Karnataka has taken a lead role as we initiate Phase I clinical trials to use Convalescent Plasma Therapy for severe Covid 19 infected patients. BMC Victoria hospital took the first step today. We are determined to vanquish this enemy of mankind. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/XU1BfXqGgj

— B Sriramulu (@sriramulubjp) April 25, 2020

He also said that the Medical Education Minister K. Sudhakar will be present at the hospital on Saturday along with him. India's apex health research body, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has already given nod for plasma therapy across the country and Kerala was the first state to plan trails. Delhi which is one of the hotspots of coronavirus in the country has just recently completed plasma therapy tests with four Covid-19 patients at the city-based Lok Nayak Hospital. According to reports Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the initial results of the plasma therapy used on four coronavirus patients in the city were encouraging. The CM said that while plasms therapy cannot be considered as a cure for coronavirus they will consider it as an option for serious patients. "After the next 2-3 more trials, we will apply for permission for plasma therapy to be given to serious corona patients across Delhi," Kejriwal said in an IANS report.