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Perego M, Iesari S, Gandolfo MT, Alfieri C, Delbue S, Cacciola R, Ferraresso M, Favi E. Outcomes of Patients Receiving a Kidney Transplant or Remaining on the Transplant Waiting List at the Epicentre of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Europe: An Observational Comparative Study. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11101144. [PMID: 36297201 PMCID: PMC9610233 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11101144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of kidney transplants (KT) performed worldwide has plummeted. Besides the generalised healthcare crisis, this unprecedented drop has multiple explanations such as the risk of viral transmission through the allograft, the perceived increase in SARS-CoV-2-related morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised hosts, and the virtual "safety" of dialysis while awaiting effective antiviral prophylaxis or treatment. Our institution, operating at the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, has continued the KT programme without pre-set limitations. In this single-centre retrospective observational study with one-year follow-up, we assessed the outcomes of patients who had undergone KT (KTR) or remained on the transplant waiting list (TWL), before (Pre-COV) or during (COV) the pandemic. The main demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients on the TWL or receiving a KT were very similar in the two periods. The pandemic did not affect post-transplant recipient and allograft loss rates. On the contrary, there was a trend toward higher mortality among COV-TWL patients compared to Pre-COV-TWL subjects. Such a discrepancy was primarily due to SARS-CoV-2 infections. Chronic exposure to immunosuppression, incidence of delayed allograft function, and rejection rates were comparable. However, after one year, COV-KTR showed significantly higher median serum creatinine than Pre-COV-KTR. Our data confirm that KT practice could be safely maintained during the COVID-19 pandemic, with excellent patient- and allograft-related outcomes. Strict infection control strategies, aggressive follow-up monitoring, and preservation of dedicated personnel and resources are key factors for the optimisation of the results in case of future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Perego
- Kidney Transplantation, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Samuele Iesari
- Kidney Transplantation, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Pôle de Chirurgie Expérimentale et Transplantation, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1348 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Maria Teresa Gandolfo
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Carlo Alfieri
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Serena Delbue
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Cacciola
- Surgery, King Salman Armed Forces Hospital, Tabuk 47512, Saudi Arabia
- HPB Surgery and Transplantation, Fondazione PTV, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Mariano Ferraresso
- Kidney Transplantation, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Evaldo Favi
- Kidney Transplantation, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0255035603
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Effect of a Third Dose of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA BNT162b2 Vaccine on Humoral and Cellular Responses and Serum Anti-HLA Antibodies in Kidney Transplant Recipients. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10060921. [PMID: 35746528 PMCID: PMC9227063 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10060921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has severely impacted on public health, mainly on immunosuppressed patients, including solid organ transplant recipients. Vaccination represents a valuable tool for the prevention of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the immunogenicity of mRNA vaccines has been evaluated in transplanted patients. In this study, we investigated the role of a third dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine in a cohort of kidney transplant recipients, analyzing both humoral and cell-mediated responses. We observed an increased immune response after the third dose of the vaccine, especially in terms of Spike-specific T cell response. The level of seroconversion remained lower than 50% even after the administration of the third dose. Mycophenolate treatment, steroid administration and age seemed to be associated with a poor immune response. In our cohort, 11/45 patients experienced a SARS-CoV-2 infection after the third vaccine dose. HLA antibodies appearance was recorded in 7 out 45 (15.5%) patients, but none of the patients developed acute renal rejection. Further studies for the evaluation of long-term immune responses are still ongoing, and the impact of a fourth dose of the vaccine will be evaluated.
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Kute V, Meshram HS, Fleetwood VA, Chauhan S, Lentine KL. Solid Organ Transplantation in SARS-CoV-2 Recovered Transplant Candidates: a Comprehensive Review of Recent Literature. CURRENT TRANSPLANTATION REPORTS 2022; 9:95-107. [PMID: 35284204 PMCID: PMC8904162 DOI: 10.1007/s40472-022-00362-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Purpose of Review As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to surge, determining the safety and timing of proceeding with solid organ transplantation (SOT) in transplant candidates who have recovered from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and who are otherwise transplant eligible is an important concern. We reviewed the current status of protocols and the outcomes of SOT in SARS-CoV-2 recovered patients. Recent Findings We identified 44 published reports up through 7 September 2021, comprising 183 SOT [kidney = 115; lung = 27; liver = 36; heart = 3; simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) = 1, small bowel = 1] transplants in SARS-CoV-2 recovered patients. The majority of these were living donor transplants. A positive SARS-CoV-2 antibody test, although not obligatory in most reports, was a useful tool to strengthen the decision to proceed with transplant. Two consecutive real-time polymerase chain test (RT-PCR) negative tests was one of the main prerequisites for transplant in many reports. However, some reports suggest that life-saving transplantation can proceed in select circumstances without waiting for a negative RT-PCR. In general, the standard immunosuppression regimen was not changed. Summary In select cases, SOT in COVID-19 recovered patients appears successful in short-term follow-up. Emergency SOT can be performed with active SARS-CoV-2 infection in some cases. In general, continuing standard immunosuppression regimen may be reasonable, except in cases of inadvertent transplantation with active SARS-CoV-2. Available reports are predominantly in kidney transplant recipients, and more data for other organ transplants are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivek Kute
- Department of Nephrology and Transplantation, Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Center and Dr. H L Trivedi Institute of Transplantation Sciences (IKDRC-ITS), Ahmedabad, India
| | - Hari Shankar Meshram
- Department of Nephrology and Transplantation, Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Center and Dr. H L Trivedi Institute of Transplantation Sciences (IKDRC-ITS), Ahmedabad, India
| | - Vidya A. Fleetwood
- Center for Abdominal Transplantation, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO USA
| | - Sanshriti Chauhan
- Department of Nephrology and Transplantation, Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Center and Dr. H L Trivedi Institute of Transplantation Sciences (IKDRC-ITS), Ahmedabad, India
| | - Krista L. Lentine
- Center for Abdominal Transplantation, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO USA
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Ibrahim B, Dawson R, Chandler JA, Goldberg A, Hartell D, Hornby L, Simpson C, Weiss MJ, Wilson LC, Wilson TM, Fortin MC. The COVID-19 pandemic and organ donation and transplantation: ethical issues. BMC Med Ethics 2021; 22:142. [PMID: 34674700 PMCID: PMC8528937 DOI: 10.1186/s12910-021-00711-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the health system worldwide. The organ and tissue donation and transplantation (OTDT) system is no exception and has had to face ethical challenges related to the pandemic, such as risks of infection and resource allocation. In this setting, many Canadian transplant programs halted their activities during the first wave of the pandemic. Method To inform future ethical guidelines related to the COVID-19 pandemic or other public health emergencies of international concern, we conducted a literature review to summarize the ethical issues. Results This literature review identified three categories of ethical challenges. The first one describes the general ethical issues and challenges reported by OTDT organizations and transplantation programs, such as risks of COVID-19 transmission and infection to transplant recipients and healthcare professionals during the transplant process, risk of patient waitlist mortality or further resource strain where transplant procedures have been delayed or halted, and resource allocation. The second category describes ethical challenges related to informed consent in the context of uncertainty and virtual consent. Finally, the third category describes ethical issues related to organ allocation, such as social considerations in selecting transplant candidates. Conclusion This literature review highlights the salient ethical issues related to OTDT during the current COVID-19 pandemic. As medical and scientific knowledge about COVID-19 increases, the uncertainties related to this disease will decrease and the associated ethical issues will continue to evolve.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jennifer A Chandler
- Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Aviva Goldberg
- Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program, Edmonton, AB, Canada.,Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | | | - Laura Hornby
- Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Christy Simpson
- Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine, Department of Bioethics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Matthew-John Weiss
- Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program, Edmonton, AB, Canada.,CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Centre, Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit, Trauma-Emergency-Critical Care Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada.,Transplant Québec, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - T Murray Wilson
- Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Marie-Chantal Fortin
- Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program, Edmonton, AB, Canada. .,Centre de Recherche du CHUM, Room R12-418, 900 rue St-Denis, Montreal, QC, H2X 0A9, Canada. .,Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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