plasma - WKTV Journal

By Jamie Allen
Metro Health – University of Michigan Health

Metro Health ICU physicians on the frontlines of COVID-19 treatment are also on the leading edge of searching for innovative solutions.

Intensive-care doctors Eric Feucht and Matt V. Zaccheo and section chief Dr. Gabriel E. Pedraza are working with Mayo Clinic to research the use of convalescent plasma to treat COVID-19. This therapy was used this month with two Metro Health ICU patients. One recovered and went home, and the other continues to improve.

“This is a promising treatment option and we are proud to contribute to the research,” said Dr.Ronald G. Grifka, Metro Health’s Chief Medical Officer. “The best minds in the world are working on this problem, and scientific collaboration of this sort is essential to finding the solutions.”

Mayo Clinic has been designated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to lead the project in collaboration with research institutions across the country. Metro Health is among the hospitals contributing to the project.

The idea convalescent plasma is more than a century old: A recovered patient’s blood serum is infused in a patient suffering the same disease, in hopes the recovered patient’s antibodies will help resist the viral invasion. This strategy has been used, with varying success, to treat Spanish Flu, SARs, Ebola and other outbreaks – but its effectiveness with COVID-19 is unknown.

The FDA has only approved the use of COVID-19 convalescent plasma as an investigational drug. This means it can be considered for use in clinical trials and for expanded use in patients with immediate, life-threatening conditions.

As a participant in the Mayo Clinic research, Metro Health will supply data from its patients who received infusions.

“Along with the scientific rigor, we’re seeing cooperation across the board to bring this investigation up to speed,” Grifka said. “This includes leading research institutions, hospitals and blood centers. Let’s not forget the recovered patients themselves, who are willing to roll up theirsleeves, literally, in hopes that can help others.”

To find out if you are eligible to donate your plasma, click here.

By Dottie Barnes
Grand Valley State University

A Grand Valley State University graduate student, who has recovered from COVID-19, said it’s difficult to be studying health care and not be able to practice what she knows.

Hannah Grinwis, 25, is in her second year of GVSU’s physician assistant studies program. Her clinical rotations were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s hard to be sidelined during this health care phenomenon,” she said. “My classmates and I are passionate about caring for others, so it is hard not being able to help patients in a feasible way right now.”

Grinwis was out of the classroom for several weeks and out of her clinical rotation for a couple weeks when she developed a dry cough and minor body aches in March, while home with her husband in Kent City.

That quickly turned into more severe symptoms.

“I had a fever and pretty severe upper back and chest pain that worsened when breathing deeply,” she said. “I also had a very severe headache, shortness of breath and fatigue. I lost my appetite and sense of smell and taste.”

Grinwis said she was able to utilize telemedicine to communicate with health care workers and tested positive for COVID-19 at the Spectrum Health tent in Grand Rapids.

“I have no idea where I got this,” she said. “We followed strict safety procedures during rotations and I had not been working with any patients who were possible COVID-19 patients.”

Grinwis said her husband and sister developed symptoms but neither developed a fever or more severe symptoms. They followed guidance from the Kent County Health Department and Spectrum Health and were all able to recover at home.

Once she was feeling better, Grinwis said she started exploring ways to give back to “pay it forward.” She decided to give plasma. In order to donate, she needed to be symptom-free for at least 14 days with a confirmatory swab that was negative. She received the “all clear” in April and now donates plasma once a week.

“It’s important for me to give back to the community that has helped me,” she said. “I grew up in West Michigan and I want to serve the people who helped me get to this point.”