COVID-19 associated development of antibody mediated rejection in orthotopic heart transplantation patients.

ABSTRACT

Solid organ transplant candidates encountered increased wait times and mortality rates during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Despite improvement in medical management and vaccination efficacy, this patient population remains at increased risk for complications post COVID-19 including organ rejection. We describe the development of antibody mediated rejection with or without cellular rejection in heart transplant (HT) recipients and previous COVID-19 infection or vaccination. Although centers have changed their management of outpatient follow-up for orthotopic heart transplant patients, little is known on surveillance of rejection and management of HT recipients after COVID-19 infection. We recommend frequent surveillance for rejection or allograft dysfunction after COVID-19 infection. We have adopted a transplant surveillance protocol for HT recipients with COVID-19 infection, given our recent experience with transplanted patients affected of COVID-19.