Impact of COVID-19 Infection on Children and Adolescents after Liver Transplantation in a Latin American Reference Center

Background: The COVID-19 infection has received the attention of the scientific community due to its respiratory manifestations and association with evolution to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2). There are few studies characterizing SARS-CoV-2 in pediatric immunocompromised patients, s...

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Main Authors: Aline F. Freitas, Renata P. S. Pugliese, Flavia Feier, Irene K. Miura, Vera Lúcia B. Danesi, Eliene N. Oliveira, Adriana P. M. Hirschfeld, Cristian B. V. Borges, Juliana V. Lobato, Gilda Porta, João Seda-Neto, Eduardo A. Fonseca
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-05-01
Series:Microorganisms
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/5/1030
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Summary:Background: The COVID-19 infection has received the attention of the scientific community due to its respiratory manifestations and association with evolution to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2). There are few studies characterizing SARS-CoV-2 in pediatric immunocompromised patients, such as liver transplanted patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the outcomes of the largest cohort of pediatric liver transplant recipients (PLTR) from a single center in Brazil who were infected with COVID-19 during the pandemic. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Primary outcomes: COVID-19 severity. The Cox regression method was used to determine independent predictors associated with the outcomes. Patients were divided into two groups according to the severity of COVID-19 disease: moderate–severe COVID and asymptomatic–mild COVID. Results: Patients categorized as having moderate–severe COVID-19 were younger (12.6 months vs. 82.1 months, <i>p</i> = 0.03), had a higher prevalence of transplantation from a deceased donor (50% vs. 4.3%, <i>p</i> = 0.02), and had a higher prevalence of COVID infection within 6 months after liver transplantation (LT) (75% vs. 5.7%, <i>p</i> = 0.002). The independent predictor of COVID-19 severity identified in the multivariate analysis was COVID-19 infection <6 months after LT (HR = 0.001, 95% CI = 0.001–0.67, <i>p</i> = 0.03). Conclusion: The time interval of less than 6 months between COVID-19 infection and LT was the only predictor of disease severity in pediatric patients who underwent liver transplantation.
ISSN:2076-2607