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Clinical implications of SARS-CoV-2 cycle threshold values in solid organ transplant recipients.

ABSTRACT: Detection of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA by RT-PCR assays is the primary diagnostic test for COVID-19. Cycle threshold (C_T ) values generated by some of these assays provide inversely proportional proxy measurements of viral load. The clinical implications of C_T values are incompletely characterized, particularly in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. We conducted a retrospective chart review of 25 adult SOT recipients admitted to the Yale New Haven Health System between March 1 and May 15, 2020, analyzing 50 test results to investigate the clinical implications of SARS-CoV-2 C_T values in this population. Initial C_T values from upper respiratory tract samples were significantly higher in patients on tacrolimus, but were not associated with admission severity nor highest clinical acuity. Viral RNA was detected up to 38 days from symptom onset with a gradual increase in C_T values over time. In five patients with serial testing, C_T values <35.0 were detected >21 days after symptom onset in 4/5 and ≥27 days in 2/5, demonstrating prolonged RNA detection. These data describe SARS-CoV-2 viral dynamics in SOT patients and suggest that C_T values may not be useful to predict COVID-19 severity in SOT patients. SARS-CoV-2 C_T values may be more useful in informing infection prevention measures.

SUBMITTER: Gaston DC

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7675520 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundThis is a descriptive study to characterize rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pediatric solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients during the early days of the pandemic. We hypothesized that asymptomatic infection may represent a large proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infection in ped SOT recipients.MethodsWe queried OTTR for all pediatric SOT recipients followed at our center and reviewed medical records to identify patients tested for SARS-CoV-2 between March 15, 2020 through June 30, 2021. Patients were tested by PCR: prior to planned procedures or because of symptoms; OR: tested by measurement of IgG to spike protein with their routine labs q 2-monthly. A positive PCR was called acute infection. A positive IgG with negative PCR was called convalescence. For immunologic studies, blood was obtained when the PCR or IgG was positive. Statistical comparisons were made between (i) acute infection vs. convalescence; (ii) acute infection vs. SOT recipients without infection (called healthy controls); (iii) LT vs. SB/MVT; (iii) positive vs. negative test result.ResultsOf 257 liver transplant (LT) recipients, 99 were tested: 6 were PCR positive,13 were antibody positive. Of 150 small bowel (SB)/ multi-visceral transplant (MVT) recipients, 55 were tested: 4 were PCR positive, 6 were antibody positive. Of 8 simultaneous liver, kidney transplant recipients, 3 were tested: 1 was PCR positive. Symptoms when present were mostly mild. Patients with a positive test result were younger (6.3 vs. 10.0-years; p=0.017). We observed a rapid decline in viral load within 96-hours without a change in immunosuppression. Antibody lasted >8-months beyond the time it was monitored. Acute infection was associated with increased CD4 and CD8 TEM cell frequency (p=0.04, p=0.03 respectively), decreased IFN-γ production from T-cells (2.8% vs.11.3% p=0.006), and decreased CD8 TEMRA frequency (4.56% vs.11.70% p=0.006).ConclusionEarly in the pandemic, COVID-19 disease was mostly mild in pediatric SOT recipients with no rejection, patient death, or graft loss observed.

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Clinical implications of SARS-CoV-2 cycle threshold values in solid organ transplant recipients.

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