Inferior outcomes of liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma during early-COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Early in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there was a significant impact on routine medical care in the United States, including in fields of transplantation and oncology. AIM: To analyze the impact and outcomes of early COVID-19 pandemic on liver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the United States. METHODS: WHO declared COVID-19 as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. We retrospectively analyzed data from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database regarding adult LT with confirmed HCC on explant in 2019 and 2020. We defined pre-COVID period from March 11 to September 11, 2019, and early-COVID period as from March 11 to September 11, 2020. RESULTS: Overall, 23.5% fewer LT for HCC were performed during the COVID period (518 vs 675, P < 0.05). This decrease was most pronounced in the months of March-April 2020 with a rebound in numbers seen from May-July 2020. Among LT recipients for HCC, concurrent diagnosis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis significantly increased (23 vs 16%) and alcoholic liver disease (ALD) significantly decreased (18 vs 22%) during the COVID period. Recipient age, gender, BMI, and MELD score were statistically similar between two groups, while waiting list time decreased during the COVID period (279 days vs 300 days, P = 0.041). Among pathological characteristics of HCC, vascular invasion was more prominent during COVID period (P < 0.01), while other features were the same. While the donor age and other characteristics remained same, the distance between donor and recipient hospitals was significantly increased (P < 0.01) and donor risk index was significantly higher (1.68 vs 1.59, P < 0.01) during COVID period. Among outcomes, 90-day overall and graft survival were the same, but 180-day overall and graft were significantly inferior during COVID period (94.7 vs 97.0%, P = 0.048). On multivariable Cox-hazard regression analysis, COVID period emerged as a significant risk factor of post-transplant mortality (Hazard ratio 1.85; 95%CI: 1.28-2.68, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: During COVID period, there was a significant decrease in LTs performed for HCC. While early postoperative outcomes of LT for HCC were same, the overall and graft survival of LTs for HCC after 180 days were significantly inferior.

Successful Management of COVID-19 Infection in 2 Early Post-Liver Transplant Recipients.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected all facets of life and continues to cripple nations. COVID-19 has taken the lives of more than 2.1 million people worldwide, with a global mortality rate of 2.2%. Current COVID-19 treatment options include supportive respiratory care, parenteral corticosteroids, and remdesivir. Although COVID-19 is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality in patients with comorbidities, the vulnerability, clinical course, optimal management, and prognosis of COVID-19 infection in patients with organ transplants has not been well described in the literature. The treatment of COVID-19 differs based on the organ(s) transplanted. Preliminary data suggested that liver transplant patients with COVID-19 did not have higher mortality rates than untransplanted COVID-19 patients. Table 1 depicts a compiled list of current published data on COVID-19 liver transplant patients. Most of these studies included both recent and old liver transplant patients. No distinction was made for early liver transplant patients who contract COVID-19 within their posttransplant hospitalization course. This potential differentiation needs to be further explored. Here, we report 2 patients who underwent liver transplantation who acquired COVID-19 during their posttransplant recovery period in the hospital. CASE DESCRIPTIONS: Two patients who underwent liver transplant and contracted COVID-19 in the early posttransplant period and were treated with hydroxychloroquine, methylprednisolone, tocilizumab, and convalescent plasma. This article includes a description of their hospital course, including treatment and recovery. CONCLUSION: The management of post-liver transplant patients with COVID-19 infection is complicated. Strict exposure precaution practice after organ transplantation is highly recommended. Widespread vaccination will help with prevention, but there will continue to be patients who contract COVID-19. Therefore, continued research into appropriate treatments is still relevant and critical. A temporary dose reduction of immunosuppression and continued administration of low-dose methylprednisolone, remdesivir, monoclonal antibodies, and convalescent plasma might be helpful in the management and recovery of severe COVID-19 pneumonia in post-liver transplant patients. Future studies and experiences from posttransplant patients are warranted to better delineate the clinical features and optimal management of COVID-19 infection in liver transplant recipients.

Successful liver transplantation in a patient recovered from COVID-19.

Transplantation in potential candidates who have recently recovered from COVID-19 is a challenge with uncertainties regarding the diagnosis, multi-organ systemic involvement, prolonged viral shedding in immunocompromised patients, and optimal immunosuppression. A 42 year male with alcoholic hepatitis underwent a successful deceased donor liver transplantation 71 days after the initial diagnosis of COVID-19. At the time of transplant, he was SARS-CoV-2 PCR negative for 24 days and had a MELD score of 33. His post-operative course was complicated by acute rejection which responded to intense immune-suppression using T-cell depletion and steroids. He was discharged with normal end-organ function and no evidence of any active infection including COVID-19. Prospective organ transplant recipients who have recovered from COVID-19 can be considered for transplantation after careful pre-transplant evaluation, donor selection, and individualized risk-benefit analysis.