A Retrospective Study about COVID-19 in Liver Transplant Recipients: Clinical Characteristics, Hospitalization and Mortality Rates in a Single Lebanese Liver Transplant Center

Abstract

Background: Liver transplantation has evolved to become the definitive treatment for most types of acute and chronic liver failure. Recent studies suggest that incidence of covid-19 among this population is generally higher due to the fact of chronic immunosuppressant. However, there is a scarcity of literature describing clinical presentation, and outcomes in Liver Transplant (LT) patients with Covid-19. We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics in LT recipients diagnosed with Covid-19 who had undergone liver transplantation at the liver and kidney transplant center of Al Rassoul hospital in Lebanon. Methods: A retrospective case series study conducted among patients who previously had a liver transplantation at the kidney and liver transplant center of Al Rassoul hospital in Lebanon and diagnosed with Covid-19, before the era of vaccination. Demographic information, past medical history, clinical manifestations, severity of the disease and patient’s outcome were recorded. Results: During the study period, a total of 27 LT recipients were enrolled among whom 6 (22.2%) patients were tested positive for Covid-19. The majority of the infected patients were female (66.6%). Out of these patients, 83.3% had mild Covid-19. The most frequent reported symptoms were fever (66.7%). 50% of patients presented with GI symptoms. The rate of hospitalization was 50%, and no patient death was recorded. All infected patient was receiving tacrolimus as immunosuppressive therapy throughout the course of infection. Conclusion: This study confirmed that liver transplant patients infected with Covid-19 had high rates of hospital admission and they were frequently presented with GI symptoms.