Title:Impact of Immunosuppressant Agents on Post Liver Transplant Patients
with COVID-19
Volume: 17
Issue: 4
Author(s): Rozita Khodashahi, Mohsen Aliakbarian and Mandana Khodashahi*
Affiliation:
- Rheumatic Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences,
Mashhad, Iran
Keywords:
COVID-19, immunosuppressive, mortality, liver transplantation, high risk infection, SARS-CoV-2.
Abstract: Background: It seems that transplant recipients are at high risk for severe COVID-19,
especially in the presence of comorbidities and immunosuppression. This study aimed to determine
the effects of previous treatment with immunosuppressants and received dosage and the risk of
COVID-19 severity and mortality in liver transplant recipients in various post-transplantation phases
in the Iranian population.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 24 patients in the post liver transplant
course, who were referred to two transplant centers (Imam Reza and Montaseriyeh hospitals) affiliated
to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran, during 2020-2021. The demographic
and clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded in a checklist, and the relationships
between various variables were analyzed.
Results: The majority of the post liver transplant patients (96%) were in the late phase of post-transplantation,
and 8.3% of the cases expired. COVID-19 severity and mortality did not show a significant
relationship with previous treatment with immunosuppressants and received dosage (P>0.05).
In addition, there was no relationship between the symptoms of COVID-19 and immunosuppressant
dosages, except for a headache. No significant correlation was found between immunosuppressants
dosage and laboratory findings, and only prednisolone dosage was found to be correlated
with heart rate (r=-0.62, P=0.03), BUN (r=-0.84, P=0.002), and D-dimer (r=-0.72, P=0.01).
Conclusion: Severe SARS-CoV-2 infection was reported in the majority of liver transplant recipients.
The severity of COVID-19 was not related to previous treatment with immunosuppressants
and received dosage.
