Current research in liver transplantation during the Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

The coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has drastically changed our daily life and clinical practice.Due to the reduction of liver transplantation and the liver injury caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection during the pandemic,the prognosis of waitinglisted liver transplant candidates is worse.Due to the long-term immunosuppressive therapy of liver recipients,their risk of infection is higher than the general population.Although some studies suggested that immunosuppressive therapy seems to have a protective effect in infected patients,it also leads to chronic infection.Due to the concerns about the risk of virus transmission,expert consensus does not recommend the utilization of donor livers with the history of Covid-19.Currently,published articles do not support the argument that virus can be transmitted to recipients through donor livers.Therefore,the feasibility of liver transplantation utilizing donor livers with SARS-CoV-2 infection remains controversial.In this article,current advances in liver transplantation during the Covid-19 pandemic are reviewed to provide a new perspective for liver transplantation in the future.