COVID-19 in solid organ transplant recipients: a single-center experience
Corresponding Author
Rogier A. S. Hoek
Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Correspondence
Rogier A. S. Hoek, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Room Rg-428, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Tel.: +31-(0)10-7040704;
fax: +31-(0)10-7035695
e-mail: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorOlivier C. Manintveld
Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorMichiel G. H. Betjes
Department of Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorMerel E. Hellemons
Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorLeonard Seghers
Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorJeroen A. A. Van Kampen
Department of Viroscience, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorKadir Caliskan
Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorJacqueline van de Wetering
Department of Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorMartijn van den Hoogen
Department of Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorHerold J. Metselaar
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorDennis A. Hesselink
Department of Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorthe Rotterdam Transplant Group
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Rogier A. S. Hoek
Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Correspondence
Rogier A. S. Hoek, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Room Rg-428, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Tel.: +31-(0)10-7040704;
fax: +31-(0)10-7035695
e-mail: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorOlivier C. Manintveld
Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorMichiel G. H. Betjes
Department of Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorMerel E. Hellemons
Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorLeonard Seghers
Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorJeroen A. A. Van Kampen
Department of Viroscience, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorKadir Caliskan
Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorJacqueline van de Wetering
Department of Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorMartijn van den Hoogen
Department of Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorHerold J. Metselaar
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorDennis A. Hesselink
Department of Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorthe Rotterdam Transplant Group
Search for more papers by this authorSummary
Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients may be at risk for severe COVID-19. Data on the clinical course of COVID-19 in immunosuppressed patients are limited, and the effective treatment strategy for these patients is unknown. We describe our institutional experience with COVID-19 in SOT. Demographic, clinical, and treatment data were extracted from the electronic patient files. A total of 23 SOT transplant recipients suffering from COVID-19 were identified (n = 3 heart; n = 15 kidney; n = 1 kidney-after-heart; n = 3 lung, and n = 1 liver transplant recipient). The presenting symptoms were similar to nonimmunocompromised patients. Eighty-three percent (19/23) of the patients required hospitalization, but only two of these were transferred to the intensive care unit. Five patients died from COVID-19; all had high Clinical Frailty Scores. In four of these patients, mechanical ventilation was deemed futile. In 57% of patients, the immunosuppressive therapy was not changed and only three patients were treated with chloroquine. Most patients recovered without experimental antiviral therapy. Modification of the immunosuppressive regimen alone could be a therapeutic option for SOT recipients suffering from moderate to severe COVID-19. Pre-existent frailty is associated with death from COVID-19.
Conflicts of interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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