Review
Benefits of plasma exchange on mortality in patients with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2022.06.014Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is safe and does not develop drug resistance.

  • TPE significantly reduced mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

  • Plasma exchange therapy should be considered for patients with COVID-19.

Abstract

Objective

The COVID-19 pandemic continues, and the death toll continues to surge. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the efficacy of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) on mortality in patients with COVID-19.

Methods

A systematic search was made of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and clinicaltrials.gov, without language restrictions. Controlled clinical trials on treatment of COVID-19 with TPE, compared with standard of care, were reviewed. Studies were pooled according to risk ratios (RRs) and weighted mean differences, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

A total of six trials (enrolling 343 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Therapeutic plasma exchange showed significant effect on mortality (RR 0.41, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.69; P = 0.0008).

Conclusion

TPE significantly reduced mortality in hospitalized patients with moderate-to-critical COVID-19. Plasma exchange therapy should be considered for patients with COVID-19.

Keywords

Mortality
Plasma exchange
COVID-19
Meta-analysis

Cited by (0)

Registration number with PROSPERO: CRD42022325020

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Contributed equally.