Abstract: PO2091
Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Kidney Transplantation in Saudi Arabia
Session Information
- Transplantation: Clinical - Allocation, Evaluation, Prognosis, and Viral Onslaughts
November 04, 2021 | Location: On-Demand, Virtual Only
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Transplantation
- 1902 Transplantation: Clinical
Authors
- AlBugami, Meteb M., King Fahad Specialist Hospital Dammam, Dammam, Eastern, Saudi Arabia
- Alshaqaq, Ali Hussain, King Fahad Specialist Hospital Dammam, Dammam, Eastern, Saudi Arabia
- Altheaby, Abdulrahman Rabe, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Al Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia
- Alhejaili, Fayez F., King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Al Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia
- Alotaibe, Fahad Eid, King Fahad Specialist Hospital Dammam, Dammam, Eastern, Saudi Arabia
Background
Kidney transplant services all over the world were severely impacted by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. The optimum management of kidney transplant recipients with coronavirus disease 2019 remains uncertain.
Methods
We conducted a multicenter cohort study of kidney transplant recipients with coronavirus disease 2019 infection in Saudi Arabia. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to study predictors of graft and patient outcomes at 28 days after coronavirus disease 2019 diagnosis.
Results
We included 130 kidney transplant recipients, with a mean age of 48.7(±14.4) years. Fifty-nine patients were managed at home with daily follow-up utilizing a dedicated clinic, while 71 (54.6%) required hospital admission. Acute kidney injury occurred in 35 (26.9%) patients. Secondary infections occurred in 38 (29.2%) patients. SARS-CoV-2 antibodies testing was carried out in 84 patients, of whom 70 tested positive for IgG and/or IgM. Fourteen patients died (10.8%). A multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that age, creatinine at presentation, acute kidney injury, and use of azithromycin were significantly associated with worse patient survival. Graft loss was associated with requiring renal replacement therapy and development of secondary infections.
Conclusion
Despite kidney transplant recipients with coronavirus disease 2019 infection having higher rate of hospital admission and mortality compared to the general population, a significant number of them can be managed using a telemedicine clinic. Most kidney transplant patients seem to mount an antibody response following coronavirus disease 2019 infection, and it remains to be seen if they will have a similar response to the incoming vaccines.