Modulating immunosuppression in liver transplant patients with COVID-19

COVID-19 and liver injury: Pathophysiology, risk factors, outcome and management in special populations

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 is an ongoing health concern. In addition to affecting the respiratory system, COVID-19 can potentially damage other systems in the body, leading to extra-pulmonary manifestations. Hepatic manifestations are among the common consequences of COVID-19. Although the precise mechanism of liver injury is still questionable, several mechanisms have been hypothesized, including direct viral effect, cytokine storm, hypoxic-ischemic injury, hypoxia-reperfusion injury, ferroptosis, and hepatotoxic medications. Risk factors of COVID-19-induced liver injury include severe COVID-19 infection, male gender, advanced age, obesity, and underlying diseases. The presentations of liver involvement comprise abnormalities in liver enzymes and radiologic findings, which can be utilized to predict the prognosis. Increased gamma-glutamyltransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase levels with hypoalbuminemia can indicate severe liver injury and anticipate the need for intensive care units’ hospitalization. In imaging, a lower liver-to-spleen ratio and liver computed tomography attenuation may indicate a more severe illness. Furthermore, chronic liver disease patients are at a higher risk for severe disease and death from COVID-19. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease had the highest risk of advanced COVID-19 disease and death, followed by metabolic-associated fatty liver disease and cirrhosis. In addition to COVID-19-induced liver injury, the pandemic has also altered the epidemiology and pattern of some hepatic diseases, such as alcoholic liver disease and hepatitis B. Therefore, it warrants special vigilance and awareness by healthcare professionals to screen and treat COVID-19-associated liver injury accordingly.

The impact of COVID-19 on liver transplantation: challenges and perspectives

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic presented unique challenges to patients with decompensated cirrhosis awaiting transplant, with respect to accessing medical facilities for routine clinic visits, imaging, laboratory workup, or endoscopies. There was a delay in organ procurement that led to a decrease in the number of liver transplants (LTs) and an increase in the morality of waitlisted patients at the beginning of the pandemic. LT numbers later equalized to pre-pandemic numbers due to combined efforts and adaptability of transplant centers as well as dynamic guidelines. Due to being immunosuppressed, the demographics of LT patients were at an increased risk of infection. Although there is a higher rate of mortality and morbidity in patients with chronic liver disease, LT itself is not a risk factor for mortality in COVID-19. There was no difference in overall mortality in LT patients compared to non-LT patients, and mortality risk factors were the same: age, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and chronic kidney disease. The most common causes of death were respiratory complications. Liver-related deaths were reported in 1.6% of patients. The optimal timing of liver transplantation post-infection depends on various factors, such as the severity of liver injury, the presence of comorbidities, and the progression of the underlying liver disease. There is not enough data available on COVID-19 cholangiopathy and the number of cases that will be seen in the future that will require LT. There are some concerns of lower immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines in LT patients but available evidence suggests that the vaccines are safe and well-tolerated.

Challenges in liver transplantation in the context of a major pandemic

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has led to a temporary suspension of liver transplant activity across the world and the remodeling of care for patients on the waiting list and transplant recipients with the increasing use of remote consultations. Emerging evidence shows that patients with more advanced liver disease are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 and death, whereas transplant recipients have similar risk with the general population which is mainly driven by age and metabolic comorbidities. Tacrolimus immunosuppression might have a protective role in the post-transplant population. Vaccines that have become rapidly available seem to be safe in liver patients, but the antibody response in transplant patients is likely suboptimal. Most transplant centers were gradually able to resume activity soon after the onset of the pandemic and after modifying their pathways to optimize safety for patients and workforce. Preliminary evidence regarding utilizing grafts from positive donors and/or transplanting recently recovered or infected recipients under certain circumstances is encouraging and may allow offering life-saving transplant to patients at the greatest need. This review summarizes the currently available data on liver transplantation in the context of a major pandemic and discusses areas of uncertainty and future challenges. Lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic might provide invaluable guidance for future pandemics.

Impact of Living Donor Liver Transplantation on COVID-19 Clinical Outcomes from a Quaternary Care Centre in Delhi

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The anticipated fear of serious outcomes in coronavirus infected liver transplant recipients led to disruption of transplant services globally. The aim of our study was to analyze COVID-19 severity in transplant recipients and to compare the difference of COVID-19 clinical outcomes in early (<1 year) vs. late (>1 year) post-transplant period.

METHODS

41 post-living donor liver transplant recipients with COVID-19 infection were studied retrospectively from 1st April 2020 to 28th February 2021.

RESULTS

The median age was 49.00 years with a male preponderance (80.49%). Fifteen patients had infection within 1 year of transplant and 26 were infected after 1 year of transplant. The overall median interval between transplantation and COVID-19 diagnosis was 816.00 days. Fever and malaise were the common presenting symptoms. The most common associated comorbidities were diabetes mellitus (65.85%) and hypertension (46.34%). The severity of illness was mild in 28 (68.29%), moderate in 4 (9.76%), severe in 6 (14.63%) and critical in 3 (7.32%). To identify associated risk factors, we divided our patients into less severe and more severe groups. Except for lymphopenia, there was no worsening of total bilirubin, transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase in the more severe group. Eight (19.51%) patients required intensive care unit admission and three (7.32%) died, while none suffered graft rejection. In recipients with early vs. late post-transplant COVID-19 infection, there were similar outcomes in terms of severity of COVID-19 illness, intensive care unit care need, requirement of respiratory support, and death.

CONCLUSION

Living donor liver transplantation can be performed during the COVID-19 pandemic without the fear of poor recipient outcome in cases of unfortunate contraction of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2.

The impact of COVID-19 on the pediatric solid organ transplant population

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has significantly impacted all aspects of healthcare including solid organ transplantation. In this review, we discuss the specific impact of COVID-19 on the pediatric solid organ transplant population including access to grafts for pediatric transplant candidates as well as COVID-19 disease manifestations in pediatric transplant recipients. We address the current knowledge of prevention and management of COVID-19 in pediatric transplant recipients and provide additional information regarding social distancing, infection prevention and return to school.

COVID-19 and the Liver: Lessons Learnt from the EAST and the WEST, A Year Later

Globally, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 virus) has been a major cause for significant morbidity and mortality. Since the start of the pandemic, several hepato-biliary manifestations in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been described and unique considerations raised. The review aims to summarize the pathogenesis and hepato-biliary manifestations in COVID-19 and discuss the similarities, contrasting features and disease-specific management across a range of hepato-biliary diseases from the EAST and the WEST. Published studies and regional society guidelines from the EAST and the WEST were comprehensively reviewed and summarized. A wide range of hepato-biliary manifestations, including the infrequent and chronic manifestation of cholangiopathy, has been observed in COVID-19. The pathogenesis of liver injury is multifactorial and with scant evidence for a direct SARS-CoV-2 infection of the liver. Patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer are potentially at increased risk for severe COVID-19, and there are unique considerations in chronic hepatitis B or C, hepatocellular carcinoma, and in those immunosuppressed such as autoimmune hepatitis or liver transplant recipients. With the surges in SARS-CoV-2 infection, liver transplant activity has variably been impacted. Preliminarily, SARS-CoV-2 vaccines appear to be safe in those with chronic liver disease and in transplant recipients, while emerging data suggest the need for a third dose in immunosuppressed patients. In conclusion, patients with chronic liver disease, particularly cirrhosis, and liver transplant recipients, are vulnerable to severe COVID-19. Over the past year, several unique considerations have been highlighted across a spectrum of hepato-biliary diseases. Vaccination is strongly recommended for those with chronic liver disease and liver transplant recipients.

COVID-19 in Liver Transplant Recipients: A Systematic Review

Liver transplant (LT) recipients are considered a vulnerable population amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, available data have been heterogeneous and scarce. Therefore, we conducted a systematic literature review identifying English-language articles published in PubMed between November 2019 and 30 May 2021. We aimed to explore three areas: (1) outcome and clinical course; (2) immunological response after COVID-19 in LT recipients; and (3) vaccination response. After systematic selection, 35, 4, and 5 articles, respectively, were considered suitable for each area of analysis. Despite the heterogeneity of the reports included in this study, we found that gastrointestinal symptoms were common in LT recipients. The outcome of the LT population was not per se worse compared to the general population, although careful management of immunosuppressive therapy is required. While a complete therapy discontinuation is not encouraged, caution needs to be taken with use of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), favoring tacrolimus (TAC) use. Although data conflicted about acquired immunity after SARS-CoV-2 infection, vaccine immunogenicity appeared to be low, suggesting that the level of surveillance should be kept high in this population.

Sex-tailored pharmacology and COVID-19: Next steps towards appropriateness and health equity

Making gender bias visible allows to fill the gaps in knowledge and understand health records and risks of women and men. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has shown a clear gender difference in health outcomes. The more severe symptoms and higher mortality in men as compared to women are likely due to sex and age differences in immune responses. Age-associated decline in sex steroid hormone levels may mediate proinflammatory reactions in older adults, thereby increasing their risk of adverse outcomes, whereas sex hormones and/or sex hormone receptor modulators may attenuate the inflammatory response and provide benefit to COVID-19 patients. While multiple pharmacological options including anticoagulants, glucocorticoids, antivirals, anti-inflammatory agents and traditional Chinese medicine preparations have been tested to treat COVID-19 patients with varied levels of evidence in terms of efficacy and safety, information on sex-targeted treatment strategies is currently limited. Women may have more benefit from COVID-19 vaccines than men, despite the occurrence of more frequent adverse effects, and long-term safety data with newly developed vectors are eagerly awaited. The prevalent inclusion of men in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) with subsequent extrapolation of results to women needs to be addressed, as reinforcing sex-neutral claims into COVID-19 research may insidiously lead to increased inequities in health care. The huge worldwide effort with over 3000 ongoing RCTs of pharmacological agents should focus on improving knowledge on sex, gender and age as pillars of individual variation in drug responses and enforce appropriateness.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children associated with SARS-CoV-2 in a solid organ transplant recipient

We present the case of a 3-year-old female liver transplant recipient with a history of Caroli disease who presented with positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test and was ultimately diagnosed with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) complicated by portal vein thrombosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of MIS-C in a pediatric solid organ transplant (SOT) recipient. Based on our patient, MIS-C could be a potential complication of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in SOT recipients and may have a negative outcome on transplant graft function.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on liver donation and transplantation: A review of the literature

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has upended healthcare systems worldwide and led to an inevitable decrease in liver transplantation (LT) activity. During the first pandemic wave, administrators and clinicians were obliged to make the difficult decision of whether to suspend or continue a life-saving procedure based on the scarce available evidence regarding the risk of transmission and mortality in immunosuppressed patients. Those centers where the activity continued or was heavily restricted were obliged to screen donors and recipients, design COVID-safe clinical pathways, and promote telehealth to prevent nosocomial transmission. Despite the ever-growing literature on COVID-19, the amount of high-quality literature on LT remains limited. This review will provide an updated view of the impact of the pandemic on LT programs worldwide. Donor and recipient screening, strategies for waitlist prioritization, and posttransplant risk of infection and mortality are discussed. Moreover, a particular focus is given to the possibility of donor-to-recipient transmission and immunosuppression management in COVID-positive recipients.

Effect of immunosuppression maintenance in solid organ transplant recipients with COVID-19: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of continuing immune suppressive therapy in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTR) with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19).

Methods

Systematic review and meta‐analysis of data on 202 SOTR with COVID‐19, published as case reports or case series. We extracted clinical, hemato‐chemical, imaging, treatment, and outcome data.

Results

Most patients were kidney recipients (61.9%), males (68.8%), with median age of 57 years. The majority was on tacrolimus (73.5%) and mycophenolate (65.8%). Mortality was 18.8%, but an equal proportion was still hospitalized at last follow up. Immune suppressive therapy was withheld in 77.2% of patients, either partially or completely. Tacrolimus was continued in 50%. One third of survivors that continued immunosuppressants were on dual therapy plus steroids. None of those who continued immunosuppressants developed critical COVID‐19 disease. Age (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1‐1.11, P = .001) and lopinavir/ritonavir use (OR 3.3, 95%CI 1.2‐8.5, P = .013) were independent predictors of mortality while immunosuppression maintenance (OR 0.067, 95% CI 0.008‐0.558, P = .012) and tacrolimus continuation (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1‐0.7, P = .013) were independent predictors of survival.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that maintaining immune suppression might be safe in SOTR with moderate and severe COVID‐19. Specifically, receiving tacrolimus could be beneficial for COVID‐19 SOTR. Because of the quality of the available evidence, no definitive guidance on how to manage SOTR with COVID‐19 can be derived from our data.

COVID-19: biologic and immunosuppressive therapy in gastroenterology and hepatology

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is an ongoing global health crisis causing major challenges for clinical care in patients with gastrointestinal diseases. Although triggering of anti-viral immune responses is essential for clearance of infection, some patients have severe lung inflammation and multiorgan failure due to marked immune cell dysregulation and cytokine storm syndrome. Importantly, the activation of cytotoxic follicular helper T cells and a reduction of regulatory T cells have a crucial, negative prognostic role. These findings lead to the question of whether immunosuppressive and biologic therapies for gastrointestinal diseases affect the incidence or prognosis of COVID-19 and, thus, whether they should be adjusted to prevent or affect the course of the disease. In this Review, data on the use of such therapies are discussed with a primary focus on inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune hepatitis and liver transplantation. In particular, the roles of corticosteroids, classic immunosuppressive agents (such as thiopurines and mycophenolate mofetil), small molecules (such as Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors), and biologic agents (such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF) blockers, vedolizumab and ustekinumab) are reviewed. Finally, the use of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines for the prevention of infection in patients with gastrointestinal diseases and concomitant immunosuppressive or biologic therapy will be discussed.

Organ Donation and Transplantation During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Summary of the Spanish Experience

BACKGROUND

Spain has been amongst the countries most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has posed significant challenges to the donation and transplantation program. Despite a dramatic decrease of donation and transplantation activities during the critical early weeks of the outbreak, the program has recovered and is learning to cope with COVID-19.

METHODS

We describe the 4 pillars upon which the Spanish donation and transplantation program has been rebuilt.

RESULTS

(1) Standards have been developed and progressively updated for the evaluation and selection of potential donors and recipients with regards to SARS-CoV-2 infection. (2) Spain has been actively generating evidence to assess the validity of our standards and to understand the natural history of the infection in transplant recipients. No case of donor-derived COVID-19 has been reported to date. COVID-19 has been more frequent and has had a more aggressive course in recipients of solid organ transplants than in the general population, but this seems largely explained by the demographics and comorbidity of transplant patients. (3) As a result of this evidence and experience, recommendations have been issued for the management of COVID-19 in solid organ transplant recipients and candidates on the waiting list. (4) Finally, concrete guidance has been issued for centers to manage the donation and transplantation programs in relation to a dynamic and heterogeneous epidemiologic scenario.

CONCLUSIONS

The Spanish experience confronting the impact of COVID-19 upon donation and transplantation may help serve the needs of a broader community in other countries.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Pediatrics and Pediatric Transplantation Programs

COVID-19 has dramatically altered the health care landscape and disrupted global health and world economics in ways that are still being measured. Its impact on children with chronic conditions or those undergoing transplantation is evolving. The organ specific manifestations in children will be reviewed and treatment strategies outlined. The impact on pediatric transplantation in the United States over the initial 6 months of the pandemic has shown significant regional variation and lags persist in resumption of normal transplant activity, particularly for living related transplantation. Finally, guidelines regarding return to school will be discussed.