Gül Ateş E.
Acıbadem Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, cilt.17, sa.April, May, June 2026, ss.1-7, 2026 (Hakemli Dergi)
Özet
Purpose: This study aimed to identify the characteristics and prognosis of kidney transplant recipients who presented with symptoms compatible with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: This study was conducted as a single-center, retrospective cross-sectional study following approval from the Baskent University Institutional Review Board. The study included cases presented between March 1, 2020, and May 31, 2021. The study analyzed demography, clinical findings, laboratory and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) results, thoracic computed tomography (CT) and hospitalization data. Patients were divided into two groups: PCR positive (PCR+) and PCR negative (PCR-) patients. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS v25.0. Results: Twenty-eight patients were PCR+. The mean age of these was 53.8 ± 10.3 years, and 82.2% were male. The main symptoms were fever (50%) and fatigue/weakness (42.8%), and among kidney transplant recipients presenting to the emergency department with symptoms compatible with COVID-19, a statistically significant difference was observed in terms of hospitalization and discharge rates (p = 0.014). Thoracic CT scans were performed in 67.8% (n=19) of them at presentation, and typical infiltrations consistent with COVID-19 were found in 50% (n=14). Significant findings in the PCR+ group included leukocyte (p=0.001), neutrophil (p=0.001), Hs-Troponin I (p=0.032), glucose (p=0.032), and tomography findings (p=0.016). Among PCR+ patients, 57.1% (n=16) required hospitalization, and the overall in hospital mortality rate was 25% (n=7). Conclusion: In kidney transplant recipients, laboratory markers and thoracic CT imaging may be utilized as valuable tools for emergency physicians in predicting COVID-19 characteristics and prognosis.