Clinical outcomes and serologic response in solid organ transplant recipients with COVID-19: A case series from the United States

Am J Transplant. 2020 Nov;20(11):3225-3233. doi: 10.1111/ajt.16079. Epub 2020 Jul 17.

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused significant morbidity and mortality for patients and stressed healthcare systems worldwide. The clinical features, disease course, and serologic response of COVID-19 among immunosuppressed patients such as solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients, who are at presumed risk for more severe disease, are not well characterized. We describe our institutional experience with COVID-19 among 10 SOT patients, including the clinical presentation, treatment modalities, and outcomes of 7 renal transplant recipients, 1 liver transplant recipient, 1 heart transplant recipient, and 1 lung transplant recipient. In addition, we report the serologic response in SOT recipients, documenting a positive IgG response in all 7 hospitalized patients. We also review the existing literature on COVID-19 in SOT recipients to consolidate the current knowledge on COVID-19 in the SOT population for the transplant community.

Keywords: antibody biology; clinical research/practice; infection and infectious agents - viral; infectious disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology*
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology*
  • Comorbidity
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Organ Transplantation / methods*
  • Pandemics*
  • SARS-CoV-2 / immunology*
  • Transplant Recipients*
  • United States / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral