Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34138909›Full record

ArticlePloS one2021

Feasibility of collecting and processing of COVID-19 convalescent plasma for treatment of COVID-19 in Uganda.

Winters Muttamba, John Lusiba, Loryndah Olive Namakula, Pauline Byakika-Kibwika, Francis Ssali, Henry Ddungu, Levicatus Mugenyi, Noah Kiwanuka, Rogers Sekibira, Cissy Kityo and 23 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
0.6field-weighted citation impact, top 30% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 9 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Convalescent plasma for people with COVID-19: a living systematic review.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2023
    Pooled it
  2. Convalescent plasma for people with COVID-19: a living systematic review.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2023
    Pooled it
  3. Trial
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

33 authors at 8 institutions in 2 countries.

Winters MuttambaMakerere University Lung Institute, Kampala, Uganda.ORCID 0000-0001-7154-2964
John LusibaUganda Peoples Defense Forces Medical Services, Kampala, Uganda.
Loryndah Olive NamakulaMakerere University Lung Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
Pauline Byakika-KibwikaDepartment of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
Francis SsaliJoint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda.
Henry DdunguUganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
Levicatus MugenyiMakerere University Lung Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
Noah KiwanukaSchool of Public Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
Rogers SekibiraMakerere University Lung Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
Cissy KityoJoint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda.
Dorothy KeyuneUganda Blood Transfusion Services, Kampala, Uganda.
Susan AcanaUganda Blood Transfusion Services, Kampala, Uganda.
Ambrose MusinguziUganda Peoples Defense Forces Medical Services, Kampala, Uganda.
Ayub MasasiMulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.
Joseph ByamugishaDepartment of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.ORCID 0000-0002-2437-8572
David MpanjuDepartment of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
Walter Jack MusokiDepartment of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
Hellen Aanyu TukamuhebwaMulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.
Fred NakwagalaMulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.
Bernard Sentalo BagayaImmunology and Molecular Biology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
Alex KayongoMakerere University Lung Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
Ivan KimuliMakerere University Lung Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
Rebecca NantandaMakerere University Lung Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
Winceslaus KatagiraMakerere University Lung Institute, Kampala, Uganda.ORCID 0000-0003-4622-191X
Esther BuregyeyaSchool of Public Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
Rosemary ByanyimaMulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.
Baterana ByarugabaMulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.
Trishul SiddharthanPulmonary and Critical Care, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
Henry MwebesaMinistry of Health, Republic of Uganda, Kampala, Uganda.
Olaro CharlesMinistry of Health, Republic of Uganda, Kampala, Uganda.
Moses Lutaakome JolobaImmunology and Molecular Biology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
William BazeyoMakerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Bruce KirengaMakerere University Lung Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
Makerere University · UGMulago Hospital · UGUganda Blood Transfusion Service · UGJoint Clinical Research Centre · UGMinistry of Health · UGJohns Hopkins University · USUganda Cancer Institute · UGUganda Management Institute · UG

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionEvidence that supports the use of COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) for treatment of COVID-19 is increasingly emerging. However, very few African countries have undertaken the collection and processing of CCP. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of collecting and processing of CCP, in preparation for a randomized clinical trial of CCP for treatment of COVID-19 in Uganda.

methodsIn a cross-sectional study, persons with documented evidence of recovery from COVID-19 in Uganda were contacted and screened for blood donation via telephone calls. Those found eligible were asked to come to the blood donation centre for further screening and consent. Whole blood collection was undertaken from which plasma was processed. Plasma was tested for transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs) and anti-SARS CoV-2 antibody titers. SARS-CoV-2 testing was also done on nasopharyngeal swabs from the donors.

results192 participants were contacted of whom 179 (93.2%) were eligible to donate. Of the 179 eligible, 23 (12.8%) were not willing to donate and reasons given included: having no time 7(30.4%), fear of being retained at the COVID-19 treatment center 10 (43.5%), fear of stigma in the community 1 (4.3%), phobia for donating blood 1 (4.3%), religious issues 1 (4.4%), lack of interest 2 (8.7%) and transport challenges 1 (4.3%). The median age was 30 years and females accounted for 3.7% of the donors. A total of 30 (18.5%) donors tested positive for different TTIs. Antibody titer testing demonstrated titers of more than 1:320 for all the 72 samples tested. Age greater than 46 years and female gender were associated with higher titers though not statistically significant.

conclusionCCP collection and processing is possible in Uganda. However, concerns about stigma and lack of time, interest or transport need to be addressed in order to maximize donations.

Indexed as

AdolescentAdultAgedAntibodies, ViralBlood DonorsBlood Specimen CollectionConvalescenceCOVID-19COVID-19 SerotherapyCross-Sectional StudiesFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansImmunization, PassiveMaleMiddle AgedAntibodies, Viral

Identifiers

PMID34138909
PMCPMC8211202
OpenAlexW3172861568

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC0
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.