Management of post cardiac transplantation immunosuppression and COVID-19: a case report

Melhaoui, Imane; Oujidi, Younes; El Heddad, Inass Arhoun; Bensaid, Amine; Bkiyar, Houssam; Bentata, Yassamine; Housni, Brahim

BACKGROUND: There is very limited experience in management of heart transplant (HT) recipients and their immunosuppressive drug therapies while confronted with a SARS-CoV-2 infection. CASE DETAILS: We report the case of a 60-year-old male, heart transplant recipient patient, admitted in our ICU for severe COVID-19. His immunosuppressors were discontinued. He presented an ARDS, a multiple organ failure and a refractory septic shock that eventually resulted in his death. DISCUSSION: Multiple studies reported a lower incidence of SARS-Cov-2 infection in HT recipients compared to the general population, probably due to their prior knowledge and use of protective and barrier measures; but when infected they tend to have poorer outcomes and higher fatality; on account of their pre-existing comorbidities and immunodeficiency. Therefore, the management of the immunosuppressive therapy raises a challenge, in the absence of trials. Physicians rely on experts’ recommendations, to maintain the immunosuppressors in case of mild COVID-19, lower to the bare minimum or even discontinue them in case of critical COVID-19 or systemic complications. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 infection is associated with poor outcomes and high mortality in HT recipients, and their immunosuppressive therapy management still raises questions and challenges in the absence of trial-validated data.