Management of COVID-19 in patients after liver transplantation: Beijing working party for liver transplantation

Hepatol Int. 2020 Jul;14(4):432-436. doi: 10.1007/s12072-020-10043-z. Epub 2020 Apr 10.

Abstract

Annually, around 850 liver transplantation is performed in Beijing, China. Recently, the new coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) caused by 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has affected nearly 200 countries worldwide. 2019-nCov can cause severe lung disease, multiple-organ damage, and significant mortalities. Liver transplant recipients, because of long-term oral immunosuppressant effects, may be more susceptible to 2019-nCoV infection and have a worse prognosis than the general population. It is urgent to set up guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19 in liver transplant recipients. In this article, we reviewed the clinical aspects of 2019-nCoV infection, characteristics of liver transplant recipients, immunosuppressant usage, and potential drug interactions to provide recommendations to clinical staff managing liver transplant recipients during the COVID-19 epidemic.

Keywords: 2019-nCoV; COVID-19; Liver transplantation; Management.

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus*
  • COVID-19
  • China
  • Coronavirus Infections / complications*
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis*
  • Coronavirus Infections / therapy
  • Humans
  • Liver Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Liver Diseases / etiology
  • Liver Diseases / therapy*
  • Liver Transplantation*
  • Pandemics
  • Patient Selection
  • Pneumonia, Viral / complications*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnosis*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / therapy
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Societies, Medical
  • Symptom Assessment