Researcher: Toroslu, Ertuğ
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Toroslu, Ertuğ
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Publication Open Access A single-center report of COVID-19 disease course and management in liver transplanted pediatric patients(Wiley, 2021) Yüksel, Muhammed; Aktürk, Hacer; Mızıkoğlu, Özlem; Toroslu, Ertuğ; Arıkan, Çiğdem; Researcher; Faculty Member; Researcher; Faculty Member; Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM) / Koç Üniversitesi Translasyonel Tıp Araştırma Merkezi (KUTTAM); School of Medicine; Koç University Hospital; N/A; N/A; N/A; N/A; 240198Background: in 2019, SARS-CoV-2 causing COVID-19 emerged. Severe COVID-19 symptoms may evolve by virtue of hyperactivation of the immune system. Equally, immunocompromised patients may be at increased risk to develop COVID-19. However, treatment guidelines for children following liver transplantation are elusive. Methods: as a liver transplantation center, we diagnosed and followed up 10 children (male/female: 8/2) with a median age of 8.5 years (IQR: 5.2-11.0), with COVID-19 post-liver transplant between March 2019 and December 2020. COVID-19 diagnosis was based on PCR test and or florid X-ray findings compatible with COVID-19 in the absence of other cause. We retrospectively collected clinical and laboratory data from electronic patient records following written consent from patients/parents. Results: nine patients were diagnosed as definitive (PCR positive) with one patient being diagnosed as probable COVID-19. Seven patients recovered without any support whereas three were admitted for non-invasive oxygenation. Lymphopenia and/or high levels of serum IL-6 were detected in four patients. Six patients mounted anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at median 30 days (IQR: 26.5-119.0) following COVID-19 diagnosis. Antibiotic therapy, favipiravir, anakinra, and IVIG were used as treatment in 4,1,1 and 2 patients, respectively. Furthermore, we kept the tacrolimus with or without everolimus but stopped MMF in 2 patients. Importantly, liver allograft function was retained in all patients. Conclusions: we found that being immunocompromised did not affect disease severity nor survival. Stopping MMF yet continuing with tacrolimus was an apt treatment modality in these patients.