Kidney transplantation from a SARS‐CoV‐2‐positive donor for the recipients with immunity after COVID‐19

Abstract

The coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic is evolving very quickly and has affected healthcare systems worldwide. Many uncertainties remain about transplantation from a SARS‐CoV‐2‐positive donor as only a few cases have been reported. Here, we present the successful transplantation of two kidneys from a 52‐year‐old male donor with active (2 weeks of COVID‐19‐like symptoms and positive nasopharyngeal swab SARS‐CoV‐2 PCR on the day of organ recovery) SARS‐CoV‐2 disease. The immediate postoperative course of both recipients was uneventful. This case emphasizes that patients with SARS‐CoV‐2 may be safe organ donors.

Solid Organ Transplantation in SARS-CoV-2 Recovered Transplant Candidates: a Comprehensive Review of Recent Literature

“…In an Italian report, DDKT was performed in a candidate with recovered COVID-19 at 29 days after the first negative PCR, a significantly shorter waiting time than the previously described median 60–71 days [ 16 ]. Some transplants have been performed in patients with active COVID-19: there are five reports of kidney transplants in candidates with positive RT-PCRs, including those with high cycle threshold (CT) values [ 17 , 18 ] as well as those with neutralizing antibodies [ 19 ]. Additionally, successful simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant (SPK) after COVID-19 recovery has been reported [ 20 ].…”

The pandemic provides a pathway: What we know and what we need to know about using COVID positive donors

“…None of the 13 transplant recipients developed COVID‐19. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 The authors are to be commended for sharing their experiences and contributing vital data to the existing sparse literature (Table 1 ) on organ transplantation from COVID‐19 positive donors.…”

Is it safe to perform abdominal transplantation from SARS‐CoV‐2 polymerase chain reaction positive donors?

“…Similar to Puodziukaite et al., 1 we safely performed abdominal transplantations from a donor with positive PCR of NP swab for SARS‐CoV‐2. During a pandemic, to expand the donor pool, we may need to reassess utilization of organs from PCR‐positive donors for kidney transplantation, especially when there are no signs of active infection with high Ct value.…”

“…with great interest. 1 This was a case report about the transplantation of two kidneys from a donor with active coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19).…”

“…We read "Kidney transplantation from a SARS-CoV-2-positive donor for the recipients with immunity after COVID-19" by Puodziukaite et al with great interest. 1 This was a case report about the transplantation of two kidneys from a donor with active coronavirus disease 2019…”