Modification in induction immunosuppression regimens to safely perform kidney transplants amid the COVID-19 pandemic: A single-center retrospective study

Comparison of outcomes in vaccinated versus unvaccinated COVID-19 kidney transplant recipients, a single center retrospective study-Is the taboo justified?

INTRODUCTION

We assessed differences in the post-transplant outcomes between COVID-19 vaccinated and unvaccinated Kidney transplant (KTx) recipients.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, single-center study of 400 KTx from 2/1/2021 to 4/30/2022 with 6-21 months follow-up. Primary outcomes included differences in the incidence of post-transplant COVID-19, ICU admission for COVID-19, death, and graft failure between the two groups. Secondary outcomes were inpatient floor admission, outpatient-management, length of hospital stay during COVID-19 admission. We also reported rejection, DGF, CMV needing treatment, and BK PCR >10 000 in baseline characteristics.

RESULT

70.5% (282/400) were fully vaccinated, and 29.5% (118/400) were unvaccinated. 33% (92/282) of vaccinated and 39% (46/118) of unvaccinated patients developed COVID-19 (p-value .03). In both groups, 16% received outpatient treatments for COVID-19. 3% (12/282) of the vaccinated and 8% (11/118) unvaccinated were admitted to the general floors (p-value .06), and 1% (3/282) of the vaccinated and 3.3% (4/118) of the unvaccinated patients needed admission to the ICU (p-value .2). The length of stay was 12 days in both groups. 13/282 (4.6%) vaccinated patients and 7/118 (5.93%) unvaccinated patients died during the follow-up period (p-value = .3). COVID-19 was deemed the etiology of death in 5/13 cases in the vaccinated and 3/7 in the unvaccinated. DGF, rejection, CMV requiring treatment, and BK PCR >10 000 were comparable between groups.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of COVID-19 was higher in unvaccinated than in vaccinated KTx. The two groups were not statistically different for other primary outcomes, including the need for hospital admissions (outpatient, general floor, ICU), length of hospital stay, death, and graft failure.

Risk factors for mortality in kidney transplant recipients with COVID-19: a single centre experience and case-control study

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 infection is considered to cause high mortality in kidney transplant recipients (KTR). Old age, comorbidities and acute kidney injury are known risk factors for increased mortality in KTR. Nevertheless, mortality rates have varied across different regions. Differences in age, comorbidities and varying standards of care across geographies may explain some variations. However, it is still unclear whether post-transplant duration, induction therapy, antirejection therapy and co-infections contribute to increased mortality in KTR with COVID-19. The present study assessed risk factors in a large cohort from India.

METHODS

A matched case-control study was performed to analyze risk factors for death in KTR (N = 218) diagnosed with COVID-19 between April 2020 to July 2021 at the study centre. Cases were KTR who died (non-survivors, N = 30), whereas those who survived were taken as controls (survivors, N = 188).

RESULTS

A high death-to-case ratio of 13.8% was observed amongst study group KTR infected with COVID-19. There was a high incidence (12.4%) of co-infections, with cytomegalovirus being the most common co-infection among non-survivors. Diarrhea, co-infection, high oxygen requirement, and need for mechanical ventilation were significantly associated with mortality on regression analyses. Antirejection therapy, lymphopenia and requirement for renal replacement therapy were associated with worse outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

The mortality was much higher in KTR who required mechanical ventilation and had co-infections. Mortality did not vary with the type of transplant, post-transplant duration and usage of depletion induction therapy. An aggressive approach has to be taken for an early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention of associated infections.

Is Early COVID-19 in Kidney Transplant Recipients Concerning Enough to Halt Transplantation? A Multicenter Comparative Analysis from India

BACKGROUND

Limited data exist on the incidence and outcome of early coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in kidney transplantation recipients (KTR).

METHODS

A retrospective multicenter research study was conducted across 12 centers in India. We explored the symptomatology, demographic, laboratory findings, and outcome of COVID-19 within 30 days of transplantation. The outcome was compared with the overall KTR and waitlisted patients acquiring COVID-19.

RESULTS

The incidence of early COVID-19 was 2.6% (n = 22) for the cumulative 838 renal transplants performed since nationwide lockdown in March 2020 until May 2021. Overall, 1049 KTR were diagnosed with COVID-19 and 2% of those had early COVID-19. The median age of the early COVID-19 cohort was 43 (31-46) years. COVID-19 severity ranged from asymptomatic (18.2%), mild (59.1%), moderate (9.1%), and severe (13.6%). Among clinical symptoms, dyspnea and anosmia were frequent, and in laboratory parameters, neutrophil lymphocyte ratio, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and D-dimer were higher in patients requiring oxygen. The mortality in early COVID-19 was not higher than overall KTR (4.5% vs 8.5%; P = 1). COVID-19 severity (23.9% vs 15.7%; P = .0001) and mortality (15.5% vs 8.5%; P = .001) among waitlisted patients (n = 1703) were higher compared with overall KTR.

CONCLUSIONS

We report higher burden of COVID-19 in waitlisted patients compared with KTR and a favorable outcome in early COVID-19 in KTR. Our report will help the transplant physicians in dealing with the ongoing dilemma of halting or resuming transplantation in the COVID-19 era.