Convalescent plasma or hyperimmune immunoglobulin for people with COVID‐19: a rapid review

Abstract

Background: Convalescent plasma and hyperimmune immunoglobulin may reduce mortality in patients with respiratory virus diseases, and are currently being investigated in trials as a potential therapy for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). A thorough understanding of the current body of evidence regarding the benefits and risks is required. Objectives: To assess whether convalescent plasma or hyperimmune immunoglobulin transfusion is effective and safe in the treatment of people with COVID‐19. Search methods: The protocol was pre‐published with the Center for Open Science and can be accessed here: osf.io/dwf53. We searched the World Health Organization (WHO) COVID‐19 Global Research Database, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane COVID‐19 Study Register, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID‐19 Research Article Database and trials registries to identify ongoing studies and results of completed studies on 23 April 2020 for case‐series, cohort, prospectively planned, and randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Selection criteria: We followed standard Cochrane methodology and performed all steps regarding study selection in duplicate by two independent review authors (in contrast to the recommendations of the Cochrane Rapid Reviews Methods Group). We included studies evaluating convalescent plasma or hyperimmune immunoglobulin for people with COVID‐19, irrespective of disease severity, age, gender or ethnicity. [...]