Characteristics of participants at baseline in the two groups. Total group numbers that are not n=60 are indicated
| Covid-19 convalescent plasma group (n=60) | Usual care group (n=60) | |
| Age (years) | 64.5 (55.7-76.6) | 67.0 (58.3-78.9) |
| Men | 37/60 (62) | 39/60 (65) |
| Weight (kg) | 80.0 (68.5-93.5) | 78.5 (67.0-89.5) (n=56) |
| Body mass index | 27.8 (24.2-32.3) (n=55) | 27.7 (22.9-32.3) (n=52) |
| Obesity (body mass index ≥30) | 21/60 (35) | 15/58 (26) |
| WHO Clinical Progression Scale score (0-10)*: | 5.0 (5.0-5.0) | 5.0 (4.5-5.0) |
| Score 4 | 9/60 (15) | 15/60 (25) |
| Score 5 | 51/60 (85) | 44/60 (73) |
| Score 6 | 0/60 | 1/60 (2) |
| Temperature (°C) | 37.2 (36.7-38.1) | 37.4 (36.7-38.7) |
| Respiratory rate (breaths/min) | 22.0 (20.0-28.0) (n=43) | 24.0 (18.0-28.0) (n=39) |
| Oxygen flow (L/min) | 2.0 (2.0-5.0) (n=50) | 3.0 (2.0-4.0) (n=45) |
| SpO2 (%) | 95.0 (94.0-96.0) | 95.0 (93.0-96.0) |
| Time from onset of symptoms to randomisation (days) | 7.0 (5.0-9.0) | 7.0 (4.0-8.5) |
| Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection: | ||
| Positive rRT-PCR test result | 58/60 (97) | 58/60 (97) |
| Typical chest CT scan only | 2/60 (3) | 1/60 (2) |
| None of the above† | 0/60 | 1/60 (2) |
| Positive SARS-Cov-2 serology | 10/23 (44) | 9/27 (33) |
| Chronic cardiac disease | 17/60 (28) | 15/60 (25) |
| Diabetes | 18/60 (30) | 14/60 (23) |
| Chronic kidney disease (stages 1-3) | 5/60 (8) | 10/60 (17) |
| Asthma | 4/60 (7) | 7/60 (12) |
| Chronic pulmonary disease (except asthma) | 4/60 (7) | 7/60 (12) |
| Active malignant neoplasm | 15/60 (25) | 16/60 (27) |
| Lymphoid neoplasm | 8/60 (13) | 10/60 (17) |
| Myeloid neoplasm | 4/60 (7) | 7/60 (12) |
| Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation | 2/60 (3) | 1/60 (2) |
| Solid organ transplantation | 1/60 (2) | 1/60 (2) |
| AIDS/HIV not on HAART | 0/60 | 1/60 (2) |
| Immunodeficiency‡ | 22/60 (37) | 27/60 (45) |
| Current or former smoker | 11/56 (20) | 17/60 (25) |
| Laboratory values: | ||
| C reactive protein (mg/L) | 74.1 (27.7-108.7) (n=58) | 84.4 (40.3-166.0) (n=58) |
| D-Dimer (µg/L) | 580 (380-1070) (n=41) | 921 (580-1650) (n=44) |
| Neutrophil count (109/L) | 4.5 (2.5-6.3) (n=47) | 3.8 (2.7-5.4) (n=55) |
| Lymphocyte count (109/L) | 0.7 (0.6-1.1) (n=48) | 0.8 (0.5-1.1) (n=54) |
| Lymphocytes to neutrophils ratio | 0.2 (0.1-0.3) (n=47) | 0.2 (0.1-0.4) (n=54) |
| Haemoglobin (g/dL) | 12.4 (10.8-13.4) (n=57) | 12.2 (10.1-13.7) (n=59) |
| Platelet count (g/L) | 192 (145-263)(n=57) | 153 (117-213) (n=59) |
| Alanine aminotransferase (IU/L) | 40.0 (23.0-74.0) (n=54) | 32.5 (22.0-47.5) (n=48) |
| Aspartate aminotransferase (IU/L) | 44.0 (30.0-68.0) (n=54) | 37.5 (28.0-52.0) (n=48) |
| Albumin (g/L) | 34.2 (29.7-37.9) (n=32) | 33.8 (30.2-39.0) (n=31) |
| Creatinine (µmol/L) | 67.5 (55.0-84.0) (n=58) | 77.0 (55.0-100.0) (n=59) |
| Ferritin (mg/L) | 1137 (461-1472) (n=33) | 945 (416-2160) (n=31) |
| Lactate dehydrogenase (g/L) | 432 (344-535) (n=38) | 366 (295-475) (n=36) |
| Creatine phosphokinase (IU/L) | 78 (47-355) (n=24) | 62 (41-141) (n=27) |
Values are number/total number (%) or median (interquartile range).
CT=computed tomography; HAART=highly active antiretroviral therapy; rRT-PCR=real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; SpO2=oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximeter.
*Score 4: admitted to hospital, no oxygen treatment; score 5: admitted to hospital, oxygen by mask or nasal prongs; score 6: admitted to hospital, oxygen by non-invasive ventilation or high flow.
†Patient was included based on typical covid-19 chest CT scan at inclusion, but then reclassified as non-indicative of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
‡Active malignant neoplasm, lymphoid neoplasm, myeloid neoplasm, haematopoietic stem cell or solid organ transplantation, AIDS/HIV not on antiretroviral treatment (patients might have more than one of these conditions).