Successful treatment of severe COVID-19 pneumonia in a liver transplant recipient

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic spreads rapidly and may be an increasing challenge for transplant community. Clinical data on COVID-19 infection in transplant population is very limited. Herein we presented the clinical course and outcome of a 50-year-old male post liver transplantation who contracted COVID-19, with subsequent infection of his wife. The process of illness was representative. A therapeutic regime with temporary immunosuppression withdrawal and systemic low-dose corticosteroid as principle was involved in the management of the patient which made him recover from severe COVID-19 pneumonia.

Keywords: clinical research/practice; immunosuppressant; infection and infectious agents - viral; infectious disease; liver transplantation/hepatology.

FIGURE 1

Representative chest CT images of COVID-19 pneumonia. A, Negative on CT imaging (symptom onset). B, Multiple irregular piece of ground-glass shadows under the pleura in both lungs (early phase). C, Bilateral confluent GGO with multifocal patchy consolidations and bronchiectasis (advanced phase). D, Peripheral small patchy consolidations and reticular fibrotic streaks (absorptive phase)

FIGURE 2

Clinical course and therapeutic regime [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]