Project description:The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic represents a major concern in immunosuppressed patients such as heart transplant recipients. Therefore, we performed a systematic review to summarize the clinical features, treatment, and outcomes of heart transplant recipients with COVID-19. We searched electronic databases from inception to January 11, 2021. Thirty-nine articles (22 case reports and 17 cohorts) involving 415 patients were included. The mean age was 59.9 ± 15.7 years and 77% of patients were men. In cohort studies including outpatients and inpatients, the hospitalization rate was 77%. The most common symptoms were fever (70%) and cough (67%). Inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein and procalcitonin) were above the normal range. Forty-eight percent of patients presented with severe or critical COVID-19. Hydroxychloroquine (54%), azithromycin (14%), and lopinavir/ritonavir (14%) were the most commonly used drugs. Forty-nine percent of patients discontinued the baseline regimen of antimetabolites. In contrast, 59% and 73% continued the same regimen of calcineurin inhibitors and corticosteroids, respectively. Short-term mortality among cohorts limited to inpatients was 25%. Our review suggests that heart transplant recipients with COVID-19 exhibited similar demographic and clinical features to the general population. However, the prognosis was poor in these patients.
Project description:BackgroundImmunosuppression and comorbidities increase the risk of severe coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. The outcomes of COVID-19 in liver transplant (LT) recipients remain unclear. We aimed to analyse the outcomes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in LT recipients.MethodsThe electronic databases were searched for articles published from 1 December 2019 to 20 May 2021 with MeSH terms COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, and liver transplantation. Studies reporting outcomes in more than 10 LT recipients were included for analysis. LT vs non-LT patients with COVID-19 infection were compared for all-cause mortality, which was the primary outcome studied. We also evaluated the relation between the timing of COVID-19 infection post-LT (< one year vs > one year) and mortality.FindingsEighteen articles reporting 1,522 COVID-19 infected LT recipients were included for the systematic review. The mean age (standard deviation [SD]) was 60·38 (5·24) years, and 68·5% were men. The mean time (SD) to COVID-19 infection was 5·72 (1·75) years. Based on 17 studies (I2 = 7·34) among 1,481 LT recipients, the cumulative incidence of mortality was 17·4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 15·4-19·6). Mortality was comparable between LT (n = 610) and non-LT (n = 239,704) patients, based on four studies (odds ratio [OR], 0·8 [0·6-1·08]; P = 0·14). Additionally, there was no significant difference in mortality between those infected within one year vs after one year of LT (OR, 1·5 [0·63-3·56]; P = 0·35). The cumulative incidence of graft dysfunction was 2·3% (1·3-4·1). Nearly 23% (20·71-25) of the LT patients developed severe COVID-19 infection. Before infection, 71% and 49% of patients were on tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil, respectively. Immunosuppression was modified in 55·9% (38·1-72·2) patients after COVID-19 infection.InterpretationLT and non-LT patients with COVID-19 have a similar risk of adverse outcomes.
Project description:Up-to-date information on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes and risk factors in haematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) recipients is required to inform on decisions about cancer treatment and COVID-19 mitigation strategies. We performed a meta-analysis to address this knowledge gap. All studies with at least five patients who reported COVID-19-related deaths in HCT recipients were included. The primary outcome was COVID-19-related death. Secondary outcomes were COVID-19-related mechanical ventilation (MV) and intensive care unit (ITU) admission. The cumulative COVID-19-related death rate among HCT recipients was 21% (95% confidence interval [CI] 18%-24%), while MV and ITU admission rates were 14% (95% CI 11%-17%) and 18% (95% CI 14%-22%), respectively. Subgroup analysis showed higher death rates in patients who developed COVID-19 within 12 months of HCT (risk ratio [RR] 1.82, 95% CI 1.09-3.03), within 6 months of receiving immunosuppressant drugs (RR 2.11, 95% CI 1.38-3.20) or in the context of active graft-versus-host disease (RR 2.38, 95% CI 1.10-5.16). Our findings support the idea that HCT should remain an integral part of cancer treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic but also highlight the need to prioritise preventative measures in those patients who are at increased risk of adverse COVID-19 outcomes.
Project description:BackgroundCOVID-19 has been associated with high morbidity and mortality in kidney transplant recipients. However, risk factors for COVID-19 disease in patients with kidney transplants remain poorly defined.MethodsWe enrolled patients who underwent kidney transplantation and were actively followed up in two hospitals in Paris on March 1st, 2020. Patients were screened for baseline and transplant characteristics, functional parameters, comorbidities, and immunosuppressive therapies. COVID-19 disease was assessed. Patients were followed up during the pandemic until April 30th, 2020 by the COVID-19 SLS KT survey program, including teleconsulting, at-home monitoring for patients with COVID-19, and a dedicated phone hotline platform.ResultsAmong 1216 patients with kidney transplants enrolled, 66 (5%) patients were identified with COVID-19 disease, which is higher than the incidence observed in the general population in France (0.3%). Their mean age was 56.4±12.5 years, and 37 (56%) patients were men. The following factors were independently associated with COVID-19 disease: non-White ethnicity (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.17; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.23 to 3.78; P=0.007), obesity (OR, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.19 to 4.05; P=0.01), asthma and chronic pulmonary disease (OR, 3.09; 95% CI, 1.49 to 6.41; P=0.002), and diabetes (OR, 3.33; 95% CI, 1.92 to 5.77; P<0.001). The mortality rate related to COVID-19 disease was 1% in the overall study population and 24% in COVID-19-positive patients.ConclusionsPatients with kidney transplants display a high risk of mortality. Non-White ethnicity and comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes, asthma, and chronic pulmonary disease were associated with higher risk of developing COVID-19 disease. It is imperative that policy makers urgently ensure the integration of such risk factors on response operations against COVID-19.
Project description:Severe acute respiratory virus syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to a worldwide pandemic. Early studies in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients suggested a wide variety of presentations, however, there remains a paucity of robust data in this population. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of SOT recipients with SARS-CoV-2 infection from January 1st t October 9th, 2020. Pooled incidence of symptoms, treatments and outcomes were assessed. Two hundred and fifteen studies were included for systematic review and 60 for meta-analysis. We identified 2,772 unique SOT recipients including 1,500 kidney, 505 liver, 141 heart and 97 lung. Most common presenting symptoms were fever and cough in 70.2% and 63.8% respectively. Majority (81%) required hospital admission. Immunosuppressive medications, especially antimetabolites, were decreased in 76.2%. Hydroxychloroquine and interleukin six antagonists were administered in59.5% and 14.9% respectively, while only few patients received remdesivir and convalescent plasma. Intensive care unit admission was 29% from amongst hospitalized patients. Only few studies reported secondary infections. Overall mortality was 18.6%. Our analysis shows a high incidence of hospital admission in SOT recipients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. As management of SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve, long-term outcomes among SOT recipients should be assessed in future studies.
Project description:BackgroundSolid organ transplant (SOT) recipients are at increased risks of morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19.ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines in SOT recipients.Data sourcesElectronic databases were searched for eligible reports published from 1 December 2019 to 31 May 2022.Study eligibility criteriaWe included reports evaluating the humoral immune response (HIR) or cellular immune response rate in SOT recipients after the administration of COVID-19 vaccines.ParticipantsSOT recipients who received COVID-19 vaccines.Assessment of risk of biasWe used the Newcastle-Ottawa scale to assess bias in case-control and cohort studies. For randomised-controlled trials, the Jadad Scale was used.MethodsWe used a random-effects model to calculate the pooled rates of immune response with 95% CI. We used a risk ratio (RR) with 95% CI for a comparison of immune responses between SOT and healthy controls.ResultsA total of 91 reports involving 11 886 transplant recipients (lung: 655; heart: 539; liver: 1946; and kidney: 8746) and 2125 healthy controls revealed pooled HIR rates after the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd COVID-19 vaccine doses in SOT recipients were 9.5% (95% CI, 7-11.9%), 43.6% (95% CI, 39.3-47.8%) and 55.1% (95% CI, 44.7-65.6%), respectively. For specific organs, the HIR rates were still low after 1st vaccine dose (lung: 4.4%; kidney: 9.4%; heart: 13.2%; liver: 29.5%) and 2nd vaccine dose (lung: 28.4%; kidney: 37.6%; heart: 50.3%; liver: 64.5%).ConclusionsA booster vaccination enhances the immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines in SOT; however, a significant share of the recipients still has not built a detectable HIR after receiving the 3rd dose. This finding calls for alternative approaches, including the use of monoclonal antibodies. In addition, lung transplant recipients need urgent booster vaccination to improve the immune response.
Project description:IntroductionThere is paucity of literature comparing outcomes of kidney transplant patients with COVID-19 to that of dialysis and waitlisted patients. This report describes our data, provides comparative analysis, together with a meta-analysis of published studies, and describes our protocols to restart the transplant program.MethodsData were analyzed on kidney transplant, dialysis, and waitlisted patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (nasopharyngeal swab polymerase chain reaction [PCR] test) between March 1, 2020, and June 30, 2020, together with a meta-analysis of 16 studies.ResultsTwenty-three of 1494 kidney transplant patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 compared with 123 of 1278 hemodialysis patients (1.5% vs. 9.6%, P < 0.001) and 12 of 253 waitlisted patients (1.5% vs. 4.7%, P = 0.002). Nineteen patients required hospital admission, of whom 6 died and 13 developed AKI. The overall case fatality ratio was 26.1% compared with patients on hemodialysis (27.6%, P = 0.99) and waitlisted patients (8.3%, P = 0.38). Within our entire cohort, 0.4% of transplant patients died compared with 0.4% of waitlisted patients and 2.7% of hemodialysis patients. Patients who died were older (alive [median age 71 years] vs. dead [median age 59 years], P = 0.01).In a meta-analysis of 16 studies, including ours, the pooled case fatality ratio was 24% (95% confidence interval [CI] 19%, 28%); AKI proportion in 10 studies was 50% (95% CI 45%, 56%), with some evidence against no heterogeneity between studies (P = 0.02).ConclusionsFrom our cohort of transplant patients, a significantly lower proportion of patients contracted COVID-19 compared with waitlisted and dialysis patients. The case fatality ratio was comparable to that of the dialysis cohort and to a pooled case fatality ratio from a meta-analysis of 16 studies. The pooled AKI ratio in the meta-analysis was similar to our results.
Project description:Kidney transplant recipients (KTR) may be at increased risk of adverse COVID-19 outcomes, due to prevalent comorbidities and immunosuppressed status. Given the global differences in COVID-19 policies and treatments, a robust assessment of all evidence is necessary to evaluate the clinical course of COVID-19 in KTR. Studies on mortality and acute kidney injury (AKI) in KTR in the World Health Organization COVID-19 database were systematically reviewed. We selected studies published between March 2020 and January 18th 2021, including at least five KTR with COVID-19. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to calculate overall proportions, including 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Subgroup analyses were performed on time of submission, geographical region, sex, age, time after transplantation, comorbidities, and treatments. We included 74 studies with 5559 KTR with COVID-19 (64.0% males, mean age 58.2 years, mean 73 months after transplantation) in total. The risk of mortality, 23% (95% CI: 21%-27%), and AKI, 50% (95% CI: 44%-56%), is high among KTR with COVID-19, regardless of sex, age and comorbidities, underlining the call to accelerate vaccination programs for KTR. Given the suboptimal reporting across the identified studies, we urge researchers to consistently report anthropometrics, kidney function at baseline and discharge, (changes in) immunosuppressive therapy, AKI, and renal outcome among KTR.
Project description:BackgroundThe aim of this study was to assess the effect of continuing immune suppressive therapy in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTR) with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).MethodsSystematic review and meta-analysis of data on 202 SOTR with COVID-19, published as case reports or case series. We extracted clinical, hemato-chemical, imaging, treatment, and outcome data.ResultsMost patients were kidney recipients (61.9%), males (68.8%), with median age of 57 years. The majority was on tacrolimus (73.5%) and mycophenolate (65.8%). Mortality was 18.8%, but an equal proportion was still hospitalized at last follow up. Immune suppressive therapy was withheld in 77.2% of patients, either partially or completely. Tacrolimus was continued in 50%. One third of survivors that continued immunosuppressants were on dual therapy plus steroids. None of those who continued immunosuppressants developed critical COVID-19 disease. Age (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1-1.11, P = .001) and lopinavir/ritonavir use (OR 3.3, 95%CI 1.2-8.5, P = .013) were independent predictors of mortality while immunosuppression maintenance (OR 0.067, 95% CI 0.008-0.558, P = .012) and tacrolimus continuation (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1-0.7, P = .013) were independent predictors of survival.ConclusionsOur data suggest that maintaining immune suppression might be safe in SOTR with moderate and severe COVID-19. Specifically, receiving tacrolimus could be beneficial for COVID-19 SOTR. Because of the quality of the available evidence, no definitive guidance on how to manage SOTR with COVID-19 can be derived from our data.