Organ Transplantation From Donors With Active Sars-cov-2 Infection: The Italian Experience
1Medicine and Surgery, Univ degli Studi dell'Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy, 2Liver Transplant Center -General Surgery 2U, University of Turin, Torino, Italy, 3Abdominal Surgery and Organ Transplantation Unit, ISMETT, Palermo, Italy, 4Medicine and Surgery, Ospedale Papa Giovanni XXIII, 24127 Bergamo, Italy, 5CHIRURGIA GENERALE E DEI TRAPIANTI, A.O. Ospedale Niguarda Ca' Granda, 20162 Milano, Italy, 6Cardio Thoracic and Vascular Department, University of Bologna S.Orsola - Malpighi, 40138 Bologna, Italy, 7Dipartimento Interaziendale Trapianti Silvio Natoli, A.O. San Camillo - Forlanini, 00149 Roma, Italy, 8DIPARTIMENTO CARDIOCHIRURGIA CARDIOLOGIA E TRAPIANTO CUORE POLMONE, Ospedale Bambino Gesù, 00165 Roma, Italy, 9Medicine and Surgery, AOU Policlinico, 41124 Modena, Italy, 10Dipartimento di Medicina Generale e Specialistica, Ospedale Maggiore - Parma, 21100 Varese, Italy, 11Chirurgia Generale, A.O.U. Policlinico Tor Vergata, 00133 Roma, Italy, 12Dipartimento di Chirurgia, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy, 13Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Chirurgiche e Neuroscienze, A.O.U. Senese - S.M. Alle Scotte, 53100 Siena, Italy, 14E’mergenza e trapianti di organi, AOU Consorziale Policlinico, 70124 Bari, Italy, 15Medicine and Surgery, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata di Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy, 16Centro Nazionale Trapianti Operativo, CNT, 00162 Roma, Italy, 17Medical DirectOR, CNT, 00162 Roma, Italy, 18General Director, CNT, 00162 Roma, Italy
Meeting: 2022 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: 9067
Keywords: COVID-19, Donation, Liver transplantation, Organ Selection/Allocation
Topic: Basic & Clinical Science » Basic & Clinical Science » 73 - COVID-19
Session Information
Session Time: 7:00pm-8:00pm
Presentation Time: 7:00pm-8:00pm
Location: Hynes Halls C & D
*Purpose: In the present study we want to report safety and outcome of organ transplantation from donors with active SARS-CoV-2 infection in Italy.
*Methods: In November 2020 the Italian CNT allowed the use of hearts and livers from asymptomatic donors with incidentally discovered active SARS-CoV-2 infection. Organ could be offered to candidates with asymptomatic or resolved COVID-19 or with a full COVID-19 vaccination (3 doses with documented seroconversion) and to Kidney transplant candidates with resolved COVID-19 or with a full course of anti-COVID-19 vaccination. After transplantation all recipients underwent SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection on respiratory secretions on a weekly basis for up to 4 weeks after transplantation.
*Results: From November 21, 2020 to January 23, 2022 we have performed 44 solid organ transplants (33 livers, including 3 split, 5 hearts and 6 kidneys), in 34 males, and 10 females, mean age 49.5 years, range 0-70), from 32 donors (18 males, mean age 47.9, range 14-82) with active SARS-CoV-2 infection and cause of death unrelated to COVID-19. None of the recipients developed a donor derived SARS-CoV-2 infection.
*Conclusions: We believe that the use of non-lung organs from donors with active SARS-CoV-2 infection in selected and consented recipients may contribute to safely increase the donors pool.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Grossi PA, Romagnoli R, Gruttadauria S, Colledan M, Carlis LDe, Martin-Suarez S, Ettorre GM, Parisi F, Benedetto FDi, Maggiore U, Tisone G, Andorno E, Carmellini M, Lupo LG, Livi U, Montemurro A, Lombardini L, Cardillo M. Organ Transplantation From Donors With Active Sars-cov-2 Infection: The Italian Experience [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2022; 22 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/organ-transplantation-from-donors-with-active-sars-cov-2-infection-the-italian-experience/. Accessed May 30, 2025.« Back to 2022 American Transplant Congress