SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibodies for the Treatment of COVID-19 in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Background: Morbidity and mortality associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection in kidney transplant recipients are high and early outpatient interventions to prevent progression to severe disease are needed. SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing mAbs, including bamlanivimab and casirivimab-imdevimab, received emergency use authorization in the United States in November 2020 for treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 disease. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 27 kidney transplant recipients diagnosed with COVID-19 between July 2020 and February 2021 who were treated with bamlanivimab or casirivimab-imdevimab and immunosuppression reduction. We additionally identified 13 kidney transplant recipients with COVID-19 who had mild to moderate disease at presentation, who did not receive mAbs, and had SARS-CoV-2 serology testing available. Results: There were no deaths or graft failures in either group. Both infusions were well tolerated. Four of the 27 patients treated with mAbs required hospitalization due to COVID-19. Four of 13 patients who did not receive mAbs required hospitalization due to COVID-19. Patients who received mAbs demonstrated measurable anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor blocking activity at the highest level detectable at 90 days postinfusion, whereas ACE2 blocking activity acquired from natural immunity in the mAb-untreated group was weak. Conclusions: Bamlanivimab and casirivimab-imdevimab combined with immunosuppression reduction were well tolerated and associated with favorable clinical outcomes in kidney transplant recipients diagnosed with mild to moderate COVID-19.

Influence of immunosuppression on seroconversion against SARS-CoV-2 in two kidney transplant recipients.

Solid organ transplant recipients are at risk for infectious complications due to chronic immunosuppression. The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the United States has raised growing concerns for the transplant patient population. We seek to add to the current limited literature on COVID-19 in transplant recipients by describing the clinical course of two kidney transplant recipients with SARS-CoV-2 infection monitored by both RT-PCR and serology. Through careful adjustment of their immunosuppression regimen, both patients had excellent recovery with intact graft function and development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.