COVID-19 infection in pediatric solid organ transplant patients.

Abstract

BackgroundAdult SOT recipients with COVID‐19 have higher mortality rates when compared to general population. There is paucity of data on outcomes in pediatric SOT recipients.MethodsThis is a cross‐sectional study investigating the prevalence of COVID‐19 infection and outcomes in pediatric SOT (heart, liver, and kidney) recipients. We extracted demographic and clinical characteristics and COVID‐19 testing (PCR or [Ab] test) results from medical records. Clinical characteristics were compared between patients who were positive for COVID‐19 (PCR or Ab) and those who did not, using Mann‐Whitney, Student's t test, or chi‐square test. p value <.05 was statistically significant.ResultsA total of 108 SOT recipients with a median age of 13.1 (8.4, 17.8) years and median 4.2 (2.7, 7.9) years from transplant were checked for COVID‐19 via a PCR or Ab test. A positive PCR was confirmed in 10 patients (9.3%), while 12 patients (11.1%) were positive for COVID‐19 Ab. The patients who tested positive in our cohort were 9/50 (18%) heart, 6/68 (8.8%) kidney, and 7/50 (14%) liver transplant recipients. There were no differences in the clinical characteristics between patients with and without COVID‐19 infection. All patients were either asymptomatic (50%) or had self‐limiting symptoms. No changes were made to the immunosuppressive regimen. Only one patient was hospitalized and none had an oxygen requirement.ConclusionsIn our cohort of pediatric SOT recipients, COVID‐19 infection was asymptomatic or mild. This data may aid clinicians in counseling patients and families in this increased‐risk population.