Clinical profile of SARS-CoV-2 infection in kidney transplant patients - A single centre observational study

Abstract

Background: In India, 8.27 million documented cases of COVID 19 and a total of 123K deaths have been reported till October 2020. We were able to estimate the clinical consequences of SARS CoV 2 in 16 patients over a period of 5 months. The disease prevalence and mortality rate observed in transplant recipients were found to be higher than in the general population. Aims and Objectives: A retrospective analysis of COVID 19 infections in kidney transplant recipients and the outcome. Materials and Methods: A single centre observational study of all patients who have undergone kidney transplant between March 2001 and December 2019 and documented evidence of SARS CoV 2 infection between March 2020 and October 2020. From a large cohort of 720 kidney transplant recipients, 16 recipients who developed COVID 19 infection were studied. They were all on maintenance immunosuppression in varying doses. None of the patients in this cohort had any recent episodes of cellular rejection requiring heightened immunosuppression. The vintage of the transplant varied from 9 to 192 months. Results: Acute kidney injury was identified in two patients. Eight patients were home quarantined and eight patients were hospitalized. All patients had a reduction in immunosuppression during the covid 19 infection dosage based on the severity of the disease. Out of the hospitalized patients, three died, two of whom had stable functioning grafts and the cause of death was identified as acute lung injury 1 patient had post covid ACR which was treated with Injection. Methyl Prednisolone. Conclusions: In our study, 2.22% developed COVID-19 disease and the mortality rate was 18.75% among those who developed COVID-19. The disease prevalence and mortality rate observed in transplant recipients were found to be higher than in the general population. Obesity, diabetes mellitus, and systemic hypertension were identified as independent risk factors.