SARS-CoV-2 infection in kidney transplant recipients

The study aimed to assess the clinical course and risk factors for adverse outcomes, as well as the treatment options for COVID-19 in renal transplant recipient (RTR). Patients and methods: a retrospective study included 279 RTRs (M 60.9%, age 49.9±10.9 years), infected with SARS-CoV-2 from 01.04.2020 to 30.11.2020. After confirmation of COVID-19 by PCR and chest CT, MMF/Aza were canceled. In severe cases, the CNI dose was minimized while that of CS was increased. Observation endpoints: hospital discharge/recovery or death. Results: SARS-CoV-2 was identified in 84.2% of RTRs. In almost 90% of patients, the COVID-19 was confirmed by CT data. Duration after transplantation at the time of infection was 54.0 (14.0;108.0) months, in 17.6% of cases it was 6 months or less. 223/79.9% RTRs were treated in the hospital. The period from the onset of the disease to the hospitalization was 6.8±4.5 days. Severe lung damage (>50%) occurred in 43.1% RTRs;45.3% of patients required respiratory support. Hospital mortality was 13.9%, overall mortality was 11.1%. The most common cause of death (93.5%) was acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The risk factors associated with an unfavorable outcome were a high comorbidity index, the severity of the pulmonary lesion, the degree of graft dysfunction at the onset of the disease, decreased SpO2 and the use of mechanical ventilation, as well as anemia, leukocytosis, lymphocytopenia, and hypoalbuminemia, increased levels of creatinine, AST, CRP, LDH, and D-dimer, interleukin-6 and procalcitonin. Scr during the course of the disease increased from 171.6±78.0 μM to 221.5±121.3 μM (p<0.01) with no signs of acute rejection. In 2 recipients with severe graft failure at the time of infection with SARS-CoV-2, HD was resumed from the moment of hospitalization. We were unable to identify the effect of hydroxychloroquine on the outcome of COVID-19. At the same time, mortality in patients with hydroxychloroquine use was higher than in recipients treated with immunobiological drugs: 25.6% and 11.4%, respectively, p<0.02. When immunomodulators were combined with dexamethasone, mortality decreased to 4.8%. The independent factors of adverse outcome were high levels of procalcitonin (p<0.019) and mechanical ventilation (p<0.001). Conclusion: COVID-19 in RTRs is characterized by a severe course and high mortality, which necessitates hospitalization of the majority of infected patients. An increase in procalcitonin levels and the need for mechanical ventilation were independent predictors of an unfavorable outcome of COVID-19. © 2021 JSC Vidal Rus. All rights reserved.