Korean J Transplant.  2022 Nov;36(Supple 1):S1. 10.4285/ATW2022.F-0461.

Comparison of kidney transplant outcomes before and after COVID-19 pandemic: a single-institution experience

• Lee YJ
• Park BS
• Park S
• Kim YW

• KMID: 2535117
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4285/ATW2022.F-0461

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the field of kidney transplantation. Recipient was found to have high mortal-ity associated with COVID-19 infection and also had vaccination-related problems. We conducted this study to understand whether there is a difference in new transplant outcome before and after COVID-19 pandemic when the treatment protocol and the composition of the transplant team are the same. From January 2018 to December 2021, patients who underwent kidney transplantation at Haeundae Paik Hospital were included in the study. We confirmed the living-donor or deceased donor trans-plantation, the presence or absence of rejection, hospitalization, the presence or absence of BK polyomavirus infection, and creatine (Cr) and cystatin C at 1 month, 3 months, and 12 months after transplantation. A total of 56 patients were included in the study. Prior to COVID-19 pandemic, 28 patients (male 20 and living donor transplants 10) underwent kidney transplantation, and 28 patients (15 male, 12 living donor transplant) underwent surgery thereafter. The average age for each group was 54±9.56 years and 53±11.40 years. Rejection was seven T-cell mediated rejection, three antibody-mediated rejection in the group prior to COVID-19 pandemic, and seven T-cell mediated rejection in the group after COVID-19 pandemic, with no statistically sig-nificant difference. There were two and four BK polyomavirus infections in each group. There were seven hospitalizations per group within 1 year, and the average length of stay was 19.52±32.68 days and 10.86±89.34 days. Laboratory tests showed no statistically significant difference in Cr and cystatin C levels at 1 month, 3 months, and 12 months. There was no difference in the outcome of the kidney transplantation before and after COVID-19 pandemic when the treatment protocol and the transplant team in charge were the same.