Transplantation Direct (Feb 2022)

Solid Organ Transplantation From SARS-CoV-2–infected Donors to Uninfected Recipients: A Single-center Experience

  • Channa R. Jayasekera, MD,
  • Holenarasipur R. Vikram, MD,
  • Zeeshan Rifat, MBBS,
  • Josiah Wagler, DO,
  • Keita Okubo, MD, PhD,
  • Brandon R. Braaksma, PA-C,
  • Jack W. Harbell, MD,
  • Caroline C. Jadlowiec, MD,
  • Nitin N. Katariya, MD,
  • Amit K. Mathur, MD,
  • Adyr Moss, MD,
  • K. Sudhakar Reddy, MBBS,
  • Andrew Singer, MD, PhD,
  • Robert Orenstein, DO,
  • Christopher F. Saling, MD,
  • Maria T. Seville, MD,
  • Girish K. Mour, MD,
  • Hugo E. Vargas, MD,
  • Thomas J. Byrne, MD,
  • Winston R. Hewitt, Jr, MD,
  • Bashar A. Aqel, MD

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1097/TXD.0000000000001286
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 2
p. e1286

Abstract

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Background. The risk of donor-derived severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in solid organ (heart, lung, liver, kidney, pancreas, and intestine) transplant recipients is poorly understood. Since hematogenous transmission of SARS-CoV-2 has not been documented to date, nonlung solid organs might be suitable for transplantation since they likely portend a low risk of viral transmission. Methods. Abdominal solid organs from SARS-CoV-2–infected donors were transplanted into uninfected recipients. Results. Between April 18, 2021, and October 30, 2021, we performed transplants of 2 livers, 1 simultaneous liver and kidney, 1 kidney, and 1 simultaneous kidney and pancreas from SARS-CoV-2–infected donors into 5 uninfected recipients. None of the recipients developed SARS-CoV-2 infection or coronavirus disease 2019, and when tested, allograft biopsies showed no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Conclusions. Transplanting nonlung organs from SARS-CoV-2–infected donors into uninfected recipients demonstrated no evidence of virus transmission.