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Review
. 2022 Jun 22:9:924454.
doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.924454. eCollection 2022.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccinations in Patients With Chronic Liver Disease and Liver Transplant Recipients: An Update

Pimsiri Sripongpun  1 , Nawamin Pinpathomrat  2 , Jackrapong Bruminhent  3   4 , Apichat Kaewdech  1
Affiliations
Review

Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccinations in Patients With Chronic Liver Disease and Liver Transplant Recipients: An Update

Pimsiri Sripongpun et al. Front Med (Lausanne). .

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a current global pandemic associated with an increased mortality, particularly in patients with comorbidities. Patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) and liver transplant (LT) recipients are at higher risk of morbidity and mortality after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Many liver societies have recommended that these patients should receive COVID-19 vaccinations, although there are limited studies assessing risks and benefits in this population. In addition, two doses of mRNA vaccines may not provide sufficient immune response, and booster dose(s) may be necessary, especially in LT recipients. Notably, variants of concern have recently emerged, and it remains unclear whether currently available vaccines provide adequate and durable protective immunity against these novel variants. This review focuses on the role of COVID-19 vaccinations in CLD and LT recipients.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; cirrhosis; immune; liver transplantation; vaccine.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Effects of SARS-CoV-2 in patients with CLD and LT recipients. CLD, chronic liver disease; HCC, HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; HR, hazard ratios; LT, liver transplant; MAFLD, Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease; NAFLD, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; OR, odd ratios; SARS-CoV-2, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Immune responses after receiving COVID-19 vaccines. COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; LT, liver transplant.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Risk factors for poor responses to COVID-19 vaccines. ALD, alcohol-associated liver disease; COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; MMF, mycophenolate mofetil; LT, liver transplant.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Proposed scheme of COVID-19 vaccination in patients with CLD and LT recipients. LT, liver transplant.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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