Association Between Total Cell Free DNA and SARS-CoV-2 In Kidney Transplant Patients: A Preliminary Study.
Transplant Proc
; 54(6): 1446-1454, 2022.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35618524
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Kidney transplant (KT) recipients are at high risk for developing severe COVID-19. Lowering immunosuppression levels in KT recipients with COVID-19 encourages native immune responses but can raise the risk of rejection. Donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA), reported as a fraction of total cfDNA, is a proven biomarker for KT rejection. Total cfDNA levels are elevated in patients with COVID-19, which may depress dd-cfDNA fractions, potentially leading to missed rejections.METHODS:
A retrospective analysis of 29 KT recipients hospitalized with COVID-19 between April and November 2020 examined total and dd-cfDNA levels. Blood samples were collected after onset of COVID-19, with follow-up samples collected from a subset of patients, when infection had likely subsided.RESULTS:
After COVID-19 diagnosis, the median total cfDNA level was elevated (7.9 multiples of median [MoM]). A significant decrease in total cfDNA levels was observed between the first and second time points (6.2 MoM, 1.0 MoM; P <001). A significant positive association was identified between total cfDNA levels and COVID-19 severity (P = .02; R2 = .19). Two patients with biopsy-proven acute cellular rejection had dd-cfDNA fractions below the 1% cutoff for rejection (0.20% and 0.78%), with elevated total cfDNA levels of 7.9 MoM and 41.8 MoM, respectively.CONCLUSIONS:
In this preliminary study, total cfDNA levels were elevated in KT patients with COVID-19, subsiding after resolution of infection. High total cfDNA levels may confound dd-cfDNA results, leading to failure to identify rejection. Considering total cfDNA levels is important in interpretation of dd-cfDNA tests for assessment of rejection in KT patients with COVID-19 or other infection.
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Trasplante de Riñón
/
Ácidos Nucleicos Libres de Células
/
COVID-19
Tipo de estudio:
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Año:
2022
Tipo del documento:
Article