title: Retrospective comparison of convalescent plasma with continuing high-dose methylprednisolone treatment in SARS patients.
abstract: Treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is experimental, and the effectiveness of ribavirin-steroid therapy is unclear. Forty SARS patients with progressive disease after ribavirin treatment and 1.5 g of pulsed methylprednisolone were given either convalescent plasma (n = 19) or further pulsed methylprednisolone (n = 21) in a retrospective non-randomised study. Good clinical outcome was defined as discharge by day 22 following the onset of symptoms. Convalescent plasma was obtained from recovered patients after informed consent. Patients in the plasma group had a shorter hospital stay (p 0.001) and lower mortality (p 0.049) than the comparator group. No immediate adverse effects were observed following plasma infusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Y O Y
authors.initials: YO
authors.lastname: Soo
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: K K S
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.forename: M H L
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: J J Y
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003289:Convalescence; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010949:Plasma / Q000276:immunology*; D020551:Pulse Therapy, Drug; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000187:drug effects; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin; D008775:Methylprednisolone