Covid-19 Severity within One Year of Liver, Pancreas and Kidney Transplantation
Solid Organ Transplant Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Meeting: 2021 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: LB 50
Keywords: COVID-19, Induction therapy, Mortality, Outcome
Topic: Clinical Science » Infectious Disease » COVID-19
Session Information
Session Name: COVID-19
Session Type: Poster Abstract
Session Date & Time: None. Available on demand.
Location: Virtual
*Purpose: The current pandemic has created uncertainty in the severity of COVID-19 in transplant recipients, especially those given lymphocyte depleting therapy within a year prior to acquisition. Our experience was reviewed to stratify outcomes of COVID-19 infection occurring before or after one year from transplant.
*Methods: All COVID-19 PCR positive liver, pancreas and/or kidney transplant recipients with a minimum of 28 days follow up were reviewed for demographics and outcomes.
*Results: 216 recipients were identified: 20 <1 year and 196 >1 year post-transplant. Almost 80% were kidney alone or with pancreas or liver, ~ 2% pancreas alone and ~19% liver recipients. In the <1 year group 17 (85%) received thymoglobulin induction, 1 (5%) received thymoglobulin rejection treatment 8 days post-transplant and 3 (15%) received steroid rejection treatment 2, 2.5 and 10 months prior to COVID-19 diagnosis. Of recipients > 1 year from transplant there was 1 (0.5%) rejection treated with steroids 8 months prior to diagnosis. In the <1 year group 15% were asymptomatic at time of diagnosis. Both groups had a similar mortality rate. Infections diagnosed >1 year after transplantation had a higher hospitalization rate due to COVID-19, statistical significance was not feasible due to small sample size. There were patients in both groups hospitalized for other reasons. Of those hospitalized for COVID-19, 1 (20%) in the <1 year group was readmitted. This patient was diagnosed with COVID-19 due to fever and dyspnea 2 weeks following SPK, induction included thymoglobulin 2 mg/kg. Immunosuppression was decreased, patient was treated with dexamethasone and remdesivir, but ultimately was intubated and died 29 days following diagnosis. In the <1 year group an additional 4 patients were hospitalized, none of whom required intubation. It is likely that not all COVID-19 positive recipients were captured in this data for the >1 year post transplant group due to loss of follow up.
*Conclusions: With a limited experience, COVID-19 infection within the first year after transplantation does not appear to have a greater mortality or hospitalization rate after lymphocyte depletion induction contrasted to recipients acquiring COVID-19 greater than a year after transplantation.
<1 Year | >1 Year | |
Age | 51.2 (25-73) | 54.6 (14-85) |
Sex: Male | 55.0% | 63.3% |
Race: Caucasian | 50.0% | 70.4% |
BMI | 27 (20.2-33.3) | 29.1 (15.5-46.3) |
Previous transplant | 15.0% | 19.4% |
<1 Year | >1 Year | |
Symptomatic at Diagnosis | 85.0% | 80.6% |
COVID-19 Hospitalization | 25.0% | 36.2% |
COVID-19 Mortality | 5.0% | 7.1% |
Hospital Readmission | 20% (1/5) | 13% (9/69) |
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Sarumi H, Fisher J, Johnson B, Pruett T. Covid-19 Severity within One Year of Liver, Pancreas and Kidney Transplantation [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2021; 21 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/covid-19-severity-within-one-year-of-liver-pancreas-and-kidney-transplantation/. Accessed November 21, 2024.« Back to 2021 American Transplant Congress