The effect of COVID-19 on liver transplantation: impact, practice patterns, therapeutics, and next steps

To assess the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the pandemic on liver transplant candidates, recipients, and donors, and review guidelines and recommendations for integrating COVID-19 therapies into current practice.

COVID-19 has high morbidity and mortality for transplant candidates; interestingly, posttransplant comorbidities play a larger role than immunosuppression status. COVID-19 therapies and vaccinations are well tolerated in pre and postliver transplant patients with few exceptions, although further research is needed regarding effectiveness in this patient population. Provider practice patterns should evolve to minimize contagion during the current pandemic and prepare for an increase in liver disease due to after-shocks of missed diagnosis and progression of liver disease.

COVID-19 has spurred new research and technologies to ensure the safety of liver transplant candidates, recipients, and donors, and most COVID-19 therapies are safe in this patient population. Further work needs to be done regarding the use of COVID-19 positive organs and the efficacy of vaccines in the transplant population.