Autologous Whole Blood Injection For COVID-19 Can Reduce Cytokine Storm and Severity of Illness

Consultant Anesthetist, Shifa Hospitals, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India ,M Christopher,M Mohamed Arafath,S R Tiruvalavan,J Auspas,Ramesh Babu, ,C Jerriton Brewin

doi:10.17511/ijmrr.2021.i03.02

Consultant Anesthetist, Shifa Hospitals, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India , M Christopher + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.17511/ijmrr.2021.i03.02

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Abstract

Autologous whole blood injection is used for various indications. It has an immunomodulatory actionon the immune system. A randomized controlled two-arm study was conducted to determine IL-6levels, CT changes and mortality among adult COVID-19 patients. The trial included 30 patientsdivided into two groups. The interventional group received 2 doses of 2.5 ml of autologous wholeblood injection spaced 2 days apart. There was a statistically significant reduction in IL-6 levels onday 6 in the group receiving treatment. CT score improved in patients who received treatment. Nocases of mortality were reported in the treatment group. Autologous whole blood injection can beused as a simple, low-cost adjuvant in the treatment of adult COVID-19 patients, regardless ofdisease severity.

Highlights

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome–coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and has become a global pandemic of the highest concern
IL-6 level is increased in the cytokine storm and it promotes a Th2 differentiation, leading to respiratory failure and death in COVID-19 patients [4,5]
Improvement in IL-6 levels was seen in 8 (53.33%) patients on day 6 in the interventional arm

Summary

Introduction

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome–coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and has become a global pandemic of the highest concern. It has an immunomodulatory action that can skew the Th2 cytokine pattern to Th1, leading to a better prognosis in COVID-19 patients by reducing the cytokine storm [6,8] It can act as a vaccine as the antigens present in the whole blood are processed and presented to the immune system by the dendritic cells of the muscle, generating an antigen-specific response in the body [9,10]. This is the first study to use unprocessed AWB injection in the treatment of COVID-19 infection

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