A case of COVID‐19, with cytokine storm, treated by consecutive use of therapeutic plasma exchange followed by convalescent plasma transfusion: A case report

Abstract

To the Editor, Although most coronavirus disease 2019 cases are mild to moderate or even asymptomatic and have good prognosis on most available therapeutic protocols, around 15% of cases suffer from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) which is usually accompanied by an intense immune response resulting in a cytokine storm, both of which lead to rapid deterioration of the patients and even might lead to death. 1,2 Herein, we report a case of severe COVID-19 with ARDS and cytokine storm that dramatically improved on the combined use of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) and convalescent plasma transfusion.A 72-year-old diabetic hypertensive male presented, at Andalusia Smouha Hospital, with a fever of 38.5°C, fatigue, dyspnea, and oxygen saturation of 90% on room air (random glucose level was 285 mg/dl, glycated hemoglobin was 12.6%). Initial chest compu-

Investigation of plasma exchange and hemoperfusion effects and complications for the treatment of patients with severe COVID‐19 (SARS‐CoV‐2) disease: A systematic scoping review

“…Eventually, after reading the full text of these articles, 21 articles were included for the final data extraction. 13 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 Inter‐rater agreement following the first round of screening between the two investigators was 94.26% (Cohen's k = 0.55). Within the second round of screening, inter‐rater agreement rose to 100%.…”

“…Twelve studies were enrolled in this category and PE was introduced as a therapeutic strategy for critically ill patients with COVID‐19. This category included 1/12 clinical trial, 24 1/12 cohort, 26 1/12 case‐control, 22 5/12 case series, 23 , 25 , 28 , 38 , 40 and 4/12 case reports 30 , 31 , 33 , 37 (Table 3 ).…”

“…Of the rest, 59 papers were excluded in the next level. Eventually, after reading the full text of these articles, 21 articles were included for the final data extraction 13,21–40 . Inter‐rater agreement following the first round of screening between the two investigators was 94.26% (Cohen's k = 0.55).…”

“…This category included 1/12 clinical trial, 24 1/12 cohort, 26 1/12 case-control, 22 5/12 case series, 23,25,28,38,40 and 4/12 case reports 30,31,33,37 (Table 3). Zhang et al 25 applied one session of PE for three patients with a plasma separator multi-filtration system, and about 3000 ml of normal FFP was exchanged for one person.…”

Plasmapheresis: a feasible choice for bullous pemphigoid patients infected with SARS‐CoV‐2

“… 29 , 42 After plasmapheresis, the convalescent plasma from a recovered patient or IVIG could be transfused to the patient immediately. 38 , 43 , 44 Last, the frequency and the number of times of plasmapheresis depend on the patient's condition. We summarized the experience in the treatment of BP and COVID‐19 patients with plasmapheresis in Tables 2 and 3 .…”