Abstract
Background: Transplant recipients are prone to developing severe infections because of immunosuppression. Therefore, studying the manifestation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in transplant recipients is of particular importance.
Methods: One hundred twelve transplant patients consecutively visiting the outpatient department of 2 German transplant centers were included in this study after providing written informed consent. The patients were interviewed about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms and history. Nasopharyngeal swabs were analyzed by SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgA were measured concomitantly in patient sera by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: The risk of severe COVID-19 according to 2 recent scores differed among the analyzed patients. All patients were well educated about their presumed higher risk of a severe COVID-19 and described performing self-isolation wherever possible. Nevertheless, 20 patients reported contact with someone suspected of having COVID-19 or who tested positive shortly thereafter (18%). Despite this relatively high exposure, no clinically relevant case of COVID-19 was reported. Though SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgA were found in 3 patients (3%); 2 patients were asymptomatic and only 1 had mild COVID-19 symptoms and positive RT-PCR 4 weeks earlier. There were no occult SARS-CoV-2 infections, as demonstrated by negative PCR tests.
Conclusion: Despite the high exposure level, the incidence of COVID-19 remained very low. Because of the differences in COVID-19 risk, balancing risk exposure and quality of life should be recommended.
【초록키워드】 COVID-19, coronavirus disease, SARS-CoV-2, Severe infection, coronavirus, severe COVID-19, Infection, Immunosuppression, risk, Symptom, RT-PCR, Asymptomatic, Transplant, IgA, Patient, Quality of life, Swab, SARS-CoV-2 infections, patients, SARS-CoV-2 IgG, positive RT-PCR, Contact, Self-isolation, acute respiratory syndrome, higher risk, patient sera, positive, recipient, enzyme-linked immunosorbent, negative PCR tests, tested, described, analyzed, reported, remained, clinically, demonstrated, were measured, incidence of COVID-19, mild COVID-19 symptom, 【제목키워드】 Transplant, Behavior, score, recipient,