Solid Organ Transplantation From SARS-CoV-2–infected Donors to Uninfected Recipients: A Single-center Experience
Channa R. Jayasekera, Holenarasipur R. Vikram, Zeeshan Rifat, Josiah Wagler, Keita Okubo, Brandon R. Braaksma, Jack W. Harbell, Caroline C. Jadlowiec, Nitin N. Katariya, Amit K. Mathur, Adyr Moss, K. Sudhakar Reddy, Andrew Singer, Robert Orenstein, Christopher F. Saling, Maria T. Seville, Girish K. Mour, Hugo E. Vargas, Thomas J. Byrne, Winston R. Hewitt, Bashar A. Aqel
Abstract
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.