IMCR revises guidance for COVID-19 treatment, drops 'Plasma Therapy'

New Delhi, May 18: In the major development, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) dropped out the plasma therapy from its prescribed list of treatments for Covid-19. The government strikes off plasma therapy, citing its ineffectiveness and inappropriate use in several cases.The decision came amid when the country is currently battling with the COVID 19.

ICMR took the decision after various studies and experts suggested that plasma therapy on COVID-19 patients was ineffective.ICMR-National Task Force for COVID-19 said that, after acknowledging the recommendation of the experts, the task force has revised the clinical guidance for COVID-19 treatment, and dropped the plasma therapy from the guidelines. The medical body has further said that they will issue an advisory on the matter soon.

Earlier, Principal Scientific Advisor K Vijay Raghavan wrote to the government cautioning against the "irrational and non-scientific use" of convalescent plasma for COVID-19 in the country.

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In the letter, he pointed out that there may be the possibility that new variants have emerged due to the irrational use of plasma therapy. He said, "Some very early evidence that indicates a possible association between emergence of variants with lower susceptibility to neutralizing antibodies in immunosuppressed" people given plasma therapy."

What is Plasma?

Plasma is the liquid part of your blood. Plasma is made up of about 90% water. It is the single largest component of human blood, comprising about 55 percent which carries important components like salts, enzymes, antibodies, and other proteins, fibrinogen.

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What is Plasma Therapy?

It is a medical process where blood is donated by recovered patients is used to treat those with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection to aid recovery.