EVANSTON, Ill.,?Dec. 8, 2020?/PRNewswire/ -- NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore) has joined researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine to test the effectiveness of convalescent blood plasma outpatient treatments. NorthShore is one of 30 sites throughout the country participating in these randomized, double-blind, controlled, phase II trials and is the only site in the state of?Illinois. The research is being funded by the U.S. Department of Defense and the National Institutes of Health.

Currently, only hospitalized patients have access to convalescent blood plasma for treatment of COVID-19.

"We are excited to be a part of this important research," said Giselle Mosnaim, MD, who is leading the studies at NorthShore. "These studies will give us the clinical data necessary to determine if convalescent blood plasma therapy can prevent infection and help patients recover more quickly in the early stages of the disease."

The research will also provide scientists with a good benchmark on how the immune system protects people from COVID-19 -- a key piece of evidence when it comes to evaluating vaccines.

Convalescent blood plasma therapy involves transfusing a portion of blood called plasma from people who have recovered from the virus and demonstrate a strong immune response. When separated from red and white blood cells and platelets in the blood, plasma is the yellow-tinged liquid that includes proteins called antibodies. These antibodies glom on to foreign substances such as viruses and either mark them for destruction by the immune system or disrupt a virus' ability to multiply and grow.

For both trials, a computer will assign participants by chance to get either plasma with COVID antibodies or plasma without COVID antibodies.

The?infection prevention trial?aims to recruit 500 participants and is designed to test whether giving blood convalescent plasma will prevent illness or lessen the severity of illness in people who are at risk of developing COVID-19 after getting exposed to someone who is infected. Participants being asked to join this study must be 18 years of age or older and have had a close contact exposure to a person with COVID-19 within the past 4 days, and not have active COVID-19 infection. Per the CDC guidelines, a close contact exposure is defined as anyone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes.

Participants in the prevention trial must consent to a nasal swab test for COVID-19, a plasma infusion, medical history and physical exam, blood tests and up to seven in-person visits to the study site over 90 days.

Separately, the?early treatment plasma trial?goal is to recruit 600 participants who have early COVID-19 disease, meaning they are within days of their first symptoms but are not sick enough to be hospitalized. Participants must be 18 years of age or older, test positive for COVID-19 and present with onset of symptoms within the past eight days (e.g. cough, shortness of breath, fever, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, neurological changes or new skin rash).

Participants in the early treatment trial must consent to a nasal swab test for COVID-19, a plasma infusion, medical history and physical exam, blood tests, up to five in-person study visits over 90 days and keep a daily symptom log.

For more information, call 224-364-7473; email?plasmastudy@northshore.org?or visit northshore.org/covid-studies.

About NorthShore University HealthSystem
NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore) is an integrated healthcare delivery system consistently ranked a Top 15 Major Teaching Hospital in the U.S. Headquartered in?Evanston, Illinois, NorthShore comprises five hospitals, 140 care sites and 2,300 physicians, serving over 635,000 patients. The organization supports academics and research as the principal teaching affiliate for the?University of Chicago?Pritzker School of Medicine. Recognized for nursing excellence, NorthShore is a Magnet designated organization--the first system in?Illinois?to receive this prestigious honor. The system also includes the NorthShore Research Institute, NorthShore Foundation and?NorthShore Home?& Hospice Services. As a not-for-profit organization, NorthShore provides more than?$205 million?in charitable care and services to the communities it serves, while philanthropic support from individuals and organizations enhances clinical care, research and education programs.

SOURCE NorthShore University HealthSystem