ABSTRACT
Objective: We aimed to evaluate the long-term graft functions of kidney transplant recepients (KTR) who have been cured of the COVID-19 and to investigate the role of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine in the clinical course of the disease. Materials and Methods: KTR who had COVID-19 pneumonia between March 2020 and September 2021 were included in the study.. The clinical course of the disease was evaluated in vaccinated patients and compared with those who were not vaccinated. The laboratory information of the patients at the time of admission to the hospital, 6 months and 12 months after the disease was recorded. Results: Of the 83 patients included, 67.5% were male. COVID-19 disease developed in 20 patients after vaccination. Vaccine;it decreased the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) 5.9 fold and hospitalization in the intensive care unit (ICU) 1.4 times fold (p < 0.05). In the follow-up, 10 patients died at the first admission to the hospital and no late death was recorded in the first year. Dialysis treatment was started in 5 patients due to graft loss. Conclusion: In kidney transplant patients, graft dysfunction may develop after COVID-19 infection. However, the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine;it can reduce the risks of hospitalization, AKI, and ICU admission.
ABSTRACT
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of favipiravir (FVP) in severe COVID-19. Methods: This is a retrospective study of 142 COVID-19 patients with severe pneumonia signs, who received inpatient treatment between March 15 and May 20, 2020. The patients were divided into two groups according to the use of FVP treatment;group 1 (n = 99) included patients who treated with FVP and group 2 (n = 43) who didn't receive FVP. Results: Mean age was 66.47 +/- 11.89 in group 1, and 68.58 +/- 14.78 in group 2. Forty patients (40.4%) in group 1 and 22 (51.2%) in group 2 were treated in the intensive care unit (P > 0.05). The proportion of eosinophil, tendency of increasing thrombocyte counts and eosinophil/neutrophil ratio in FVP group was significantly higher than non-FVP group (p < 0.05). In Group 1, patients had significantly reduced erythroid series, and elevated uric acid levels as side effects of FVP. With respect to complications during hospitalization, there was no significant difference among the groups for mechanical ventilator requirement, acute kidney injury, dialysis requirement and sepsis (P > 0.05). The mortality rates in Group 1 (n = 26 [26.3%]) were lower than those in group 2 (n = 16 [37.2%]), but it was not statistically significant. Conclusions: While the treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia options were limited during the initial stages of the pandemic, the FVP may be effective in severe cases. To confirm this effect, randomized controlled studies are needed in patients of all disease severities.