First Covid patient undergoes plasma therapy in Aligarh

Agra: A 72-year-old Covid-19 patient in Aligarh was administered the first dose of plasma therapy at AMU’s Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC) on Thursday. The plasma was administered after the male patient stopped responding to regular treatment for infection.

According to JNMC principal Prof Shahid Ali Siddiqui, the patient, who has a history of hypertension and diabetes, had tested Covid positive three days back. While he was admitted to the hospital, five members of his family were quarantined. Though he responded to the initial treatment, the doctors later noticed progression of symptoms and decided to transfuse plasma in the patient. He added, with his consent, the patient was induced with the first dose of 200ml of plasma.

People who have recovered from COVID-19 have antibodies to the disease in their blood and the same is known as convalescent plasma. “Three resident doctors of JNMC have donated their plasma so far and many more are willing to donate,” Prof Siddiqui said. Convalescent plasma can be given to people with severe COVID-19 patient to boost their ability to fight the virus, he added.

He said that the patient will be given a second dose of 200ml on Friday and his condition would be closely monitored.

AMU vice-chancellor and a surgeon by profession Professor Tariq Mansoor said, “JNMC has emerged as the frontline hospital of western Uttar Pradesh in the war against Covid-19 with more than 80% recovery rate. It has conducted around 50,000 tests so far. The medical college has also installed a new machine and started plasma therapy that will arrest the mortality rate.”


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