Autoimmune & ArthritisCochrane Review Confirms Convalescent Plasma Fails to Cut COVID-19 Mortality
This updated Cochrane systematic review pooled data from 48 randomized controlled trials involving over 24,500 people with COVID-19. For those with moderate to severe disease, high-certainty evidence shows convalescent plasma does not reduce deaths, prevent mechanical ventilation, or improve hospital discharge rates compared to standard care or placebo. For mild disease, the evidence remains uncertain, though moderate-certainty evidence suggests convalescent plasma may reduce hospitalizations or death compared to standard plasma. The authors characterize CP as probably having little to no effect on serious adverse events versus placebo (moderate certainty). They conclude this research question is no longer a priority, as new studies are publishing less frequently and findings are unlikely to shift the conclusions. The review was previously maintained as a living systematic review from its first version in 2020 through the October 2024 search.
