Hong Kong University Researchers: "Plasma from COVID-19 Recovered Patients Shows Excellent Therapeutic Effects"

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Research results have shown that the plasma of people who have recovered from the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is highly effective in treatment.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

According to a study by Ivan Hung and his research team at the University of Hong Kong, introduced by the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 15th, using plasma from patients who have recovered from COVID-19 can eliminate 99% of the COVID-19 virus. This is because antibodies remaining in the plasma of recovered patients remove the virus.

Plasma is the liquid component of blood, excluding blood cells such as red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Professor Hung's team reported last week that a severely ill COVID-19 patient improved after receiving plasma therapy and was able to be taken off mechanical ventilation and other support.

Previously, in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, where COVID-19 first broke out, COVID-19 patients also received plasma therapy.

In Hong Kong, there was an appeal for plasma donations from COVID-19 patients, but only three people actually responded. The Hong Kong Red Cross used two packs of the donated plasma for patient treatment and achieved significant results.

Although there were visible outcomes, the Hong Kong Red Cross reported that patients who have fully recovered from COVID-19 are hesitant to provide plasma. Dr. Lee Cheuk-kwong of the Hong Kong Red Cross said, "I understand that patients who have recovered from COVID-19 now want to live a normal life," but added, "We hope they will come forward to donate plasma."

Meanwhile, Dr. Lee stated that in Hong Kong, plasma donations from women are not accepted in relation to COVID-19 plasma donation. This is because transfusing plasma from pregnant women could potentially cause problems in the lungs of COVID-19 patients, and the donor herself may not be aware of her pregnancy.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.