St. Luke’s COVID-19 Patient Off Ventilator Following Successful Plasma Trial

A COVID-19 patient who was on a ventilator at St. Luke’s Warren Campus is on the road to recovery after successful extubation that followed an experimental blood plasma treatment.

The patient’s treatment was part of a nationwide expanded access treatment protocol overseen by the Mayo Clinic. Convalescent plasma (the liquid part of blood) from a person who recovered from COVID-19 contains antibodies that may provide a powerful boost to someone else fighting the viral infection.

“Our Warren Campus is proud to be part of St. Luke’s University Health Network’s participation in this national effort to develop a COVID-19 treatment,” said St. Luke’s Warren Campus President Scott R. Wolfe. “It exemplifies the importance of ingenuity and perseverance to support the heroic, life-saving work of our physicians, nurses and other caregivers.”

Convalescent plasma has a long track record, having been used as a treatment during the 1918 influenza pandemic as well as the SARS and Ebola outbreaks. More recently, it appeared to be helpful in a small study of COVID-19 patients from China.

“St. Luke’s participation in this blood plasma trial will help advance the medical community’s understanding of how best to treat COVID-19 patients,” St. Luke’s Infectious Disease Section Chief Dr. Peter Ender said. “Because of the lack of proven treatments for this life-threatening infection, novel approaches are needed.”

Have you or your loved one contracted COVID-19? You can help.

“In order for the convalescent plasma program to be successful and allow us to help the greatest number of patients, we really need the help of all of our recovered patients,” said St. Luke’s Anesthesiologist Eric Tesoriero, DO.

Every day is a good day to donate blood and help save a life, but if you are a COVID-19 recoveree, your community has never needed you more. If you think you may be a candidate for donation, please contact Liz Nivar at St. Luke’s Pulmonary and Critical Care Associates (484-503-0350). A care provider will complete the paperwork necessary for Miller-Keystone Blood Center to proceed.

For more information about plasma, visit COVIDPlasma.org/.

Note: This local health news is brought to you in partnership with St. Luke’s University Health Network.