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Management of lung transplantation in the COVID‐19 era—An international survey
Author(s) -
Coiffard Benjamin,
Lepper Philipp M.,
Prud’Homme Eloi,
Daviet Florence,
Cassir Nadim,
Wilkens Heinrike,
Hraiech Sami,
Langer Frank,
Thomas Pascal A.,
ReynaudGaubert Martine,
Bals Robert,
Schäfers HansJoachim,
Papazian Laurent,
Seiler Frederik
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
american journal of transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.89
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1600-6143
pISSN - 1600-6135
DOI - 10.1111/ajt.16368
Subject(s) - medicine , hydroxychloroquine , azithromycin , covid-19 , transplantation , pandemic , lung transplantation , intensive care medicine , regimen , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , antibiotics , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
It is unknown if solid organ transplant recipients are at higher risk for severe COVID‐19. The management of a lung transplantation (LTx) program and the therapeutic strategies to adapt the immunosuppressive regimen and antiviral measures is a major issue in the COVID‐19 era, but little is known about worldwide practice. We sent out to 180 LTx centers worldwide in June 2020 a survey with 63 questions, both regarding the management of a LTx program in the COVID‐19 era and the therapeutic strategies to treat COVID‐19 LTx recipients. We received a total of 78 responses from 15 countries. Among participants, 81% declared a reduction of the activity and 47% restricted LTx for urgent cases only. Sixteen centers observed deaths on waiting listed patients and eight centers performed LTx for COVID‐19 disease. In 62% of the centers, COVID‐19 was diagnosed in LTx recipients, most of them not severe cases. The most common immunosuppressive management included a decreased dose or pausing of the cell cycle inhibitors. Remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, and azithromycin were the most proposed antiviral strategies. Most of the centers have been affected by the COVID‐19 pandemic and proposed an active therapeutic strategy to treat LTx recipients with COVID‐19.