Background: COVID-19 is associated with higher mortality among patients who have comorbidities. However, evidences related to COVID-19 among post liver transplant recipients are scarce and evolving.
Methods: Adult Indian patients who had undergone liver transplantation at our centre since 2006 and were under regular follow-up, were contacted either telephonically or on email. Data were recorded related to symptoms and diagnosis of COVID-19, need for hospitalization, and need for ICU stay and mortality.
Results: Eighty one (3.71%) of the 2182 adult Liver transplant (LT) recipients on regular follow-up reported SARS-CoV-2 infection between 1st April 2020 and 31st May 2021. Mean age was 51.3(±9.8) years, and 74(91.4%) were males. Thirty five (43.2%) patients had one or more comorbidities. Twenty one (25.9%) patients were transplanted less than 1 year ago. Forty four (54.3% ) patients had mild disease only while 23(28.4%) patients had severe COVID-19 disease. Of the 81 patients 14 patients died and overall mortality was 17.3.
Conclusion: Uncomplicated liver transplant recipients without comorbidities who acquire SARS-CoV-2 do not have poor outcome.
Keywords: ARDS, Acute respiratory distress syndrome; CAD, Coronary artery disease; CKD, Chronic kidney disease; CNIs, Calcineurin inhibitors; COVID-19; COVID-19, corona virus disease 2019; LDLT, live donor liver transplants; LT, Liver transplant; NAAT, nucleic acid amplification test; NAFLD, Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; NASH, Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; OPD, Outpatients department; SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus-2; liver transplant.
© 2021 Indian National Association for Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.