COVID‑19 in Renal Transplant Patients – A Narrative Review

Abstract

The World Health Organisation declared the novel coronavirus known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 a pandemic in March 2020. This virus has led to the deaths of more than 6 million people worldwide. Besides causing pneumonia, COVID‑19 is linked to multiple organ dysfunction, including the kidneys, especially in individuals whose immune systems are already compromised. Consequently, individuals who are currently on a waiting list for a kidney transplant or who have recently received a kidney transplant are at a significantly increased risk for developing acute kidney injury and are severely impacted by the COVID‑19 infection. The pandemic has negatively affected the transplantation process and led to a decrease in the number of organ donations as well as the volume of renal transplants. This review summarises the outcomes of COVID‑19 infection in renal transplant patients, its pathophysiology, the challenges faced by the transplant community, and the management of immunosuppression.