Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 17, 2025

Robot-Assisted Kidney Transplantation
Published on: July 19, 2021
Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Kidney Transplant Recipients: Single-Center Experience and Case-Control Study
Anna Hardesty1, Aakriti Pandita2, Kendra Vieira2
1Department of Internal Medicine, Residency, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
Insights
Kidney transplant recipients (KTR) with COVID-19 had outcomes comparable to non-transplant patients, but experienced more bacterial infections. Immunosuppressant drug levels were often high in these KTR.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Infectious Diseases
- Transplantation
Background:
- Kidney transplant recipients (KTR) are a high-risk group for COVID-19 complications.
- Limited data exists on immunosuppressant drug levels and secondary infections in KTR with COVID-19.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the clinical course of COVID-19 in KTR.
- To compare outcomes between hospitalized KTR and non-transplant controls.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case series of KTR diagnosed with COVID-19.
- Comparison of clinical outcomes between KTR and age/sex-matched non-transplant controls.
- Analysis of immunosuppressant drug levels and secondary infection rates.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in length of stay or clinical outcomes between KTR and controls.
- Elevated tacrolimus or sirolimus levels (>10 ng/mL) in 67% of KTR.
- Higher incidence of bacterial infections in KTR (36.3%) compared to controls (6.8%).
Conclusions:
- COVID-19 outcomes in KTR were comparable to non-transplant patients in this cohort.
- High calcineurin or mTOR inhibitor levels were observed in KTR.
- Bacterial infections were more frequent in KTR.
Background:
Kidney transplant recipients (KTR) are considered high-risk for morbidity and mortality from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, some studies did not show worse outcomes compared to non-transplant patients and there is little data about immunosuppressant drug levels and secondary infections in KTR with COVID-19. Herein, we describe our single-center experience with COVID-19 in KTR.
Methods:
We captured KTR diagnosed with COVID-19 between March 1, 2020 and May 18, 2020. After exclusion of KTR on hemodialysis and off immunosuppression, we compared the clinical course of COVID-19 between hospitalized KTR and non-transplant patients, matched by age and sex (controls).
Results:
Eleven KTR were hospitalized and matched with 44 controls. One KTR and 4 controls died (case fatality rate: 9.1%). There were no significant differences in length of stay or clinical outcomes between KTR and controls. Tacrolimus or sirolimus levels were >10 ng/mL in 6 out of 9 KTR (67%). Bacterial infections were more frequent in KTR (36.3%), compared with controls (6.8%, P = .02).
Conclusions:
In our small case series, unlike earlier reports from the pandemic epicenters, the clinical outcomes of KTR with COVID-19 were comparable to those of non-transplant patients. Calcineurin or mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor (mTOR) levels were high. Bacterial infections were more common in KTR, compared with controls.
Related Concept Videos
Kidney Transplant I: Introduction
Kidney Transplant II: Surgical Procedure
Kidney Transplant III: Nursing Management
Acute Kidney Injury IV: Diagnostic Studies and Prevention
Acute Kidney Injury I: Introduction
Chronic Kidney Disease II: Clinical Manifestations

