COVID-19 in lung transplant recipients: A multicenter study

Area of Science:

• Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Transplantation

Background:

• Lung transplant recipients (LTRs) are a vulnerable population for severe infections.
• The clinical course and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 in LTRs remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the clinical presentation, treatment, and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection in adult LTRs.
• To identify factors associated with mortality in LTRs following SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Main Methods:

• Multicenter, retrospective study of adult LTRs with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.
• Data collection included clinical, radiological, treatment, and outcome information.
• Analysis of factors influencing mortality.

Main Results:

• Forty-four LTRs with SARS-CoV-2 infection were identified.
• High rates of respiratory support (84%) and critical care admission (30%) were observed.
• Mortality rate was 39%, with worse respiratory status, chest X-ray findings, and elevated biomarkers (D-dimer, IL-6, LDH) predicting death.

Conclusions:

• SARS-CoV-2 infection in lung transplant recipients is associated with high mortality.
• Disease severity at presentation and specific biomarker levels are critical predictors of mortality in this cohort.