Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a Chinese renal transplant recipient: a case report

Since December 2019, a novel coronavirus that caused viral pneumonia broke out and became global pandemic. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Reports on the clinical manifestations in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients are rare. We report the clinical features and treatment of a Chinese renal transplant recipient with COVID-19. A 46-year-old Chinese woman, who had a renal transplant in 2006 due to chronic glomerulonephritis, was admitted to Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University for fever, cough, and expectoration for more than 10 days and diarrhea for 3 days. At admission, her body temperature was 38.2 °C and pulse oxygen saturation was 96% under oxygen inhalation. There were decreased breath sounds bilaterally. Laboratory data revealed normal leucocyte count, a normal percentage of neutrophils, a normal percentage of lymphocytes, decreased lymphocyte count, elevated procalcitonin and C-reactive protein (CRP), and increased levels of urea, creatinine, and estimated glomerular filtration rate. COVID-19 was confirmed by nasopharyngeal swab and sputum which were positive for SARS-CoV-2 by real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Chest CT revealed multiple patchy and flake ground-glass shadows in bilateral lung fields, and strip shadows in bilateral lower lobes. Treatment included antiviral (umifenovir, hydroxychloroquine), antibacterial (moxifloxacin), and other support therapies. Her symptoms, laboratory data, and chest CT showed trends of gradual improvement, while nasopharyngeal swabs were always positive for SARS-CoV-2. She was finally discharged from hospital on her 70th day of hospitalization when 2 consecutive nasopharyngeal swabs were negative for SARS-CoV-2. This is a rare report on COVID-19 in a renal transplant recipient, which can help enhance the understanding and treatment of COVID-19 in renal transplant recipients.