COVID‐19, liver transplant, and immunosuppression: Allies or foes?. Issue 1 (31st July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Parente, Alessandro; Manzia, Tommaso Maria; Angelico, Roberta; Tirotta, Fabio; Muiesan, Paolo; Tisone, Giuseppe; Framarino dei Malatesta, Marialuisa
• Is Part Of: Transplant infectious disease. Volume 23:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-07-31
• Subjects: COVID‐19 -- liver transplant -- liver transplantation; Transplantation of organs, tissues, etc -- Complications -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; 617.01
• DOI: 10.1111/tid.13417
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1398-2273

Abstract

Abstract: Liver transplant (LT) recipients are considered at a particularly high risk for developing critical COVID‐19 infection. To date, available data are heterogeneous and scarce and mortality in LT recipients seems to be higher compared to normal population, but whether this is caused by altered immunological status, immunosuppression (IS), or underlying comorbidities has not yet been fully clarified. Some evidences show that IS might play a role in the pathophysiology of this new disease. We searched all available data regarding LT recipients infected by COVID‐19, focusing on the role of IS. To date, 244 LT recipients have been reported as COVID‐19‐positive. Trends among transplant physicians are to reduce overall IS, especially antimetabolite drugs, but the current available observations are still not enough to build strong evidences for recommendation and IS should be meticulously tailored case by case.