Ernesto Azarkevich
02/05/2021 4:43 PM
Clarín.com
Society
Updated 02/05/2021 17:11
Hyperimmune equine serum is one of the great promises against the coronavirus, in addition to vaccines.
The treatment, recently approved by the Anmat, has already begun to be used in hospitals in several provinces of the country.
Although the global results are not yet known, they have already begun to transcend those of some districts.
And the results are encouraging.
The serum was
more than 93 percent effective
in treating coronavirus patients admitted to the Corrientes Field Hospital.
The drug was applied to 45 infected, of which 42 showed
excellent evolution
and were discharged within a week.
The data was released by the Ministry of Public Health of Corrientes, which invested almost 72 million pesos to acquire
2,500 doses of the serum.
The doctors at the Hospital that concentrates Covid 19 patients, in the provincial capital, were satisfied with the results and stressed that the use of the drug prevented patients from having to be admitted to the intensive care sector.
The first data on the innovative treatment were brought to the Minister of Public Health, Ricardo Cardozo, by the director of the Campaña Hospital, Alberto Arregín, accompanied by the director of the Critical Area, Analía Giménez;
the coordinator of the Infectious Diseases area, Fernando Achinelli;
and the head of Laboratory and Biochemistry, Diego Farizano.
Arregín did not hesitate to describe
the treatment implemented
as
"very positive"
.
"It is another therapeutic achievement, with optimal results," he was excited.
Corrientes is close to
22,000 infections and 379 deaths from the virus.
Medical personnel carry out controls of patients with Covid-19 in an intensive care unit of a Buenos Aires hospital.
For his part, Achinelli said that the serum began to be applied on Wednesday of last week to patients who were admitted to the Clinic sector of the Field Hospital.
"They are patients who must meet
certain criteria
to receive this serum," explained the doctor.
And he added that with this treatment "the initial objectives of the work were met, which is not to require hospitalization in intensive care and not require mechanical respiratory assistance."
Achinelli said that the treated people
“improved their saturation, their oxygenation and many of them have already been discharged
.
This treatment fills us with hope to help lower mortality rates in Corrientes, ”he said.
The head of the hospital's laboratory sector, Diego Farizano, stressed that Corrientes leads the application of the serum.
The professional highlighted that "hyperimmune serum has a neutralization capacity
100 times higher than that of convalescent plasma
and it can be produced on a large scale," he said.
In addition, he recalled that the studies carried out by Conicet revealed that hospitalization in intensive care
is reduced by 26%
and the risk of complications in moderate patients is reduced by 47% ”.
"It is a therapy that is added to those we have, such as plasma treatment, and it is essential because it slows down the number of patients who can reach intensive care and use a respirator."
Analía Giménez indicated that “72 hours after the onset of coronavirus symptoms, the patient must receive plasma treatment and
from the sixth to ten days he is a candidate to receive equine serum
, always according to the clinical evolution, the tomographic evaluation and to oxygen saturation ”.
"All patients who meet these criteria have
moderate to severe pneumonia
and are in medical clinic, that is, non-ventilated patients, are candidates to be able to carry out treatment with equine serum," added the doctor.
He assured that it is "a new hope to prevent the progression of this disease, which is what this serum does, and that will reduce the mortality of patients with Covid-19."
In addition to Corrientes, they are using equine serum in Jujuy and Río Negro hospitals.
Sources from the pharmaceutical sector explained that in approximately a week the results of
pharmacovigilance
of the equine serum will
be disseminated
, in which further conclusions can be observed.
Missions. Correspondent
$
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