Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has started to affect Saudi Arabia and is expected to cause a lot of morbidities and many patients, especially the elderly, will require intensive care unit (ICU) support to survive as its lethality increases with the increasing age. Development of a vaccine by pharmaceutical companies like Roche and antibody concentrates from convalescent patients' plasma by Takeda will take 10-12 months to complete, and we speculate that it will be overwhelmingly expensive and limited in supply. We are presenting this urgent proposal to use the convalescent plasma to save the lives of severely affected COVID-19 patients. Most of the logistic support is already available in MOH Saudi Arabia, and it will be a cheap and quick technique based on the time-tested principles of passive immunization which is supported by the most recent data from China. We are proposing to test the therapeutic potential of convalescent plasma (from patients who have fully recovered from COVID-19) in treating patients with serious COVID-19 disease or those who are at risk of developing a serious disease based on their comorbidities profile. Convalescent plasma could provide our first-line defense for people with Covid-19, especially those who are older and at a much higher risk for complications. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with no available vaccine or proven antiviral drug, antibodies from recovering patients could provide a "stopgap" measure to help in controlling the pandemic effects on health and economy. We plan to recruit at least 40 consenting donors and patients. Non-consenting patients will serve as controls.
Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of RNA viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the
common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).1,2 The new strain of coronavirus identified in
December 2019 in Wuhan city, Hubei province of China, was called 2019 novel coronavirus
(2019- nCoV) and has been named by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV)
as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The ICTV have determined
that SARS-CoV-2 is the same species as SARS-CoV but a different strain. The World Health
Organization (WHO) has named the disease associated with SARS-CoV-2 infections as "COVID-19".
Clinical features of SARS-CoV-2 infection typically include respiratory symptoms, fever,
cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, the infection
can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), kidney failure and
even death. It is not easy to differentiate between non-SARS-CoV-2 seasonal influenza and
other respiratory viruses including the locally reported MERS-CoV and H1N1 influenza viruses.
SARS-CoV-2 has a higher transmission rate (TR) with an approximate fatality rate of 3%.
Although most of the younger patients recover after milder disease, but COVID-19 is most
aggressive in the elderly population with worst pneumonia and death rates may reach 14.8%.4
Final diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection depends on viral detection (and if possible,
exclusion of other viruses e.g. by Respiratory Viral Panel). Laboratory detection of the
SARS-CoV2 is based on detection of viral RNA by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase
chain reaction (rRT-PCR) with confirmation by nucleic acid sequencing when necessary.1-5 For
example, GeneFinder™ COVID-19 Plus RealAmp Kit is the One-Step Reverse Transcription
Real-Time PCR Kit designed to detect the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) qualitatively through
Reverse Transcription reaction and Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction. We will use this or
equivalent method to confirm the diagnosis and will repeat the rRT-PCR to make sure it has
become negative in a recovered patient. As of now, no vaccine or antiviral drug coming soon,
antibodies from recovering patients could provide a "stop-gap" measure to help in controlling
the pandemic. The concept of using convalescent plasma is not new. It has been tried in
limited numbers of patients during more-recent viral crises, including the 2003 SARS (severe
acute respiratory syndrome) epidemic, the 2009 "swine flu" epidemic, and the 2012 outbreak of
MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome).6 Convalescent plasma treatment reduced mortality in
patients with severe pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Virus Infection.7 Patients with a
resolved viral infection will develop a polyclonal antibody immune response to different
viral antigens of 2019-nCoV. Some of these polyclonal antibodies will likely neutralize the
virus and prevent new rounds of infection, and the patients with resolved infection should
produce 2019-nCoV antibodies in high titer. Patients with resolved cases of 2019-nCoV can
simply donate plasma, and then this plasma can be transfused into infected patients.8 Given
that plasma donation is well established, and the transfusion of plasma is also routine
medical care, this proposal does not need any new science or medical approvals in order to be
put into place. Indeed, the same rationale was used in the treatment of several Ebola
patients with convalescent serum during the outbreak in 2014-2015.9 Since the emergence of
this SARS-CoV-2 infection in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, it has rapidly spread across
China and more than 188 other countries and territories. According to the WHO, as of March
27, 2020, there have been 540,832 confirmed cases worldwide and 24,294 deaths. SARS-CoV-2 has
structural similarity to SARS-CoV that caused SARS and MERS-CoV.3 In the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, there are 1012 confirmed cases reported till now, with 3 deaths (on March 26, 2020).
The Saudi government's prompt actions to slow down the spread of SARS-CoV-2 seem to be
effective. However, CDC Estimates 40-70% of the US population will be infected with
SARS-CoV-2. Even with curtailment measures, judging from past pandemics, approximately 40% of
human beings will be exposed to COVID-19 over the next 2-3 years. Most of these infected
people will recover and almost all of them will be immune. Vigilance and readiness are needed
to teach the masses about preventive measures because older people and those with
comorbidities will be the sickest. Contemporaneously, therapeutic measures are highly needed
from the medical community to treat COVID-19 patients.
Other: convalescent plasma from recovered COVID 19 donor
After obtaining informed consent, Eligible Patients who have severe COVID-19 and have not recovered yet will be infused with the donated convalescent plasma (10-15 ml/kg body weight of recipient)19 at least once & if possible, daily, for up to 5 sessions.
Inclusion Criteria:s
1. Recipients:
We will use the confirmed case definition of SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) with
POSITIVE rRT PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 "using one of the SFDA approved kit used in KSA"
as per current MOH / SCDPC (Waqayah) guidelines (derived from WHO and CDC ).
1. 18 or older
2. Patient with COVID 19 confirmed as per case definition of CDC or MOH/Waqayah
3. Must have been requiring ICU care or severe or immediately life-threatening care:
i. Patient requiring ICU admission. ii. Severe disease is defined as:
1. Dyspnea
2. Respiratory frequency ≥ 30/min
3. Blood oxygen saturation ≤ 93%
4. Partial pressure of arterial oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen ratio < 300,
and/or Lung infiltrates > 50% within 24 to 48 hours iii. Life-threatening disease
is defined as:
1. Respiratory failure
2. Septic shock, and/or
3. Multiple organ dysfunction or failure
2. Donors:
1. 18 or older
2. Recovery from Prior confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis through NEGATIVE rRT PCR test
for SARS-CoV-2 from blood or nasopharyngeal swab - FDA IND guidance or the MOH
updated recovery protocol 15.20.22.23
3. Complete Clinical Recovery from COVID-19 at least 14 days prior to donation (FDA
IND guidance15)
4. All MOH criteria for a fit donor will be followed prior to donation.
5. All Transfusion Transmissible Infections (TTI) markers on the donor blood are
negative as per current MOH routine donor screening regulations
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Recipients:
1. Negative or non-conclusive test COVID-19 rRT PCR test for SARS-CoV-2
2. Mild symptoms
3. Hospitalization not requiring ICU admission
2. Donors:
1. Unfit to donate.
2. Multiparous or pregnant females.
John Hopkins Aramco Healthcare
Dhahran, Eastern Provence, Saudi Arabia
Dammam Medical Complex
Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University
Dammam, Saudi Arabia
king Fahad specialist hospital
Dammam, Saudi Arabia
DHahran Military Medical Complex
Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
International Medical Center
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Madinah General Hospital
Medina, Saudi Arabia
Ohud Hospital
Medina, Saudi Arabia
Taibah University
Medina, Saudi Arabia
Qatif Central Hospital
Qatif, Saudi Arabia
King Abdulaziz Medical City
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
King Fahad Medical City
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
King Khalid University Hospital
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Hani Al-Hashmi, MD, Principal Investigator
King Fahad Specialist Hospital