Title of article :
SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Pediatric Liver Transplantation: Does It Work?
Author/Authors :
Ahmadinejad, Zahra Liver Transplantation Research Center - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Fakhar, Nasir Department of General Surgery - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran - Liver Transplantation Research Center - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Alimadadi, Hosein Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research Center - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran - Children’s Medical Center - Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Tehran
Abstract :
SARS-CoV-2 infection is an urgent health problem in the world (1). The infection has involved more than 200 countries, and theWorldHealth Organizationhas declared
it a pandemic. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is asymptomatic
in most children, making its timely and correct diagnosis
difficultinpediatricpatients(2). Thus, children are amajor
source of spreading SARS-CoV-2.
Liver transplantation is a life-saving procedure, especially in children. However, the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection are not completely clear on liver transplantation.
- What are the clear indications of immediate liver
transplantation in children during the COVID-19 epidemic?
- What should we do for recipients and donors before
liver transplantation during the COVID-19 epidemic?
These are now the most challenging issues in the field
of transplantation during the COVID-19 epidemic. Our hospital is the second major center of pediatric
liver transplantation in Iran. Recently, two boys were
excluded from our organ transplantation list because of
COVID-19. Thefirstonewas a six-year-oldboywhowas a candidate for liver transplantation due to decompensated cirrhotic Wilson disease. His father was evaluated as a donor,
but the chest CT scan was positive for COVID-19. When we
examined the recipient, he had no symptoms or signs of
COVID-19, but the result of his SARS-COV-2 RNA PCR test was
positive.
The second case was a 14-year-old boy with idiopathic
acute liver failure, who had no findings suggestive of
COVID-19. However, his chest CT scan revealed the typical symptoms of COVID-19, and consequently, his SARS-CoV-2 RNA PCR test was positive.
Keywords :
COVID-19 , Cirrhosis , Liver Transplantation , Children
Journal title :
Iranian Journal of Pediatrics