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Thromboembolic complications after COVID-19 in kidney transplant recipients
Ayse Serra Artan1, Ahmet Burak Dirim2, Halil Yavuzkilic1
1Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
Insights
Kidney transplant recipients experienced increased rates of blood clots after COVID-19. Moderate COVID-19, older age, and heart disease were linked to higher risks of these thrombotic events.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiology
Background:
- COVID-19 is associated with increased thrombotic events in the general population.
- Data on thrombotic complications in kidney transplant recipients post-COVID-19 are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence of thrombotic complications in kidney transplant recipients following COVID-19.
- To identify risk factors associated with these thrombotic events in this patient group.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective observational study of adult kidney transplant recipients diagnosed with COVID-19 (March 2020 - June 2022).
- Endpoint: occurrence of thromboembolic events.
- Follow-up for a median of 10.8 months post-COVID-19.
Main Results:
- 11.9% of surviving patients developed thromboembolic complications.
- Moderate COVID-19, older age, and prior heart disease were significant risk factors.
- Incidence of thromboembolic events was 10.9 per 100 patient-years.
Conclusions:
- Kidney transplant recipients face elevated risks of post-COVID-19 thromboembolic complications.
- Further prospective studies are needed to explore treatment strategies for these complications.
Aim:
Increased venous thrombosis and arterial embolism rates are observed in the general population during or after COVID-19. Data regarding the kidney transplant population are scarce. In this study, we aim to investigate the thrombotic complications and risk factors associated with thrombotic complications in kidney transplant patients.
Methods:
This retrospective observational study included adult kidney transplant recipients diagnosed with COVID-19 between March 2020 and June 2022. The endpoint was the occurrence of thromboembolic events.
Results:
Four hundred and sixty-nine patients were followed for a median of 10.8 months after COVID-19. Forty patients (8.5%) died. Thromboembolic complications developed in 51 (11.9%) of the surviving patients. Twenty-four patients with thromboembolic events were receiving prophylactic anticoagulation before the event. The patients with mild, moderate, and severe COVID-19 were 292, 129, and 48, respectively. Patients with moderate COVID-19 had a significantly higher percentage of thromboembolic complications than patients with mild COVID-19. Older age, prior heart disease, and moderate COVID-19 were significantly associated with thromboembolic events. The incidence of thromboembolic events after COVID-19 is 10.9 per 100 patient-year.
Conclusion:
Thromboembolic complications were observed at increased rates in kidney transplant recipients after COVID-19. Therefore, prospective and cohort studies for post-COVID-19 complications regarding the treatment modalities are urgently needed.
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