Pediatric heart transplant rejection following COVID-19 infection

ABSTRACT

Background Infections have been associated with rejection episodes in solid organ transplant recipients. We report an association between COVID-19 infection and heart transplant (HT) rejection. Case Description The patient was 14 years old and 6.5 years post-HT. He developed symptoms of rejection within two weeks of COVID exposure and presumed infection. Conclusions In this case, COVID-19 infection closely preceded significant rejection and graft dysfunction. Further study is needed to establish a correlation between COVID-19 infection and rejection in heart transplant patients.