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COVID-19

COVID-19 Impact on Organ Transplantation Studied

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A recent study from Jena University Hospital, Germany, has investigated the effect of COVID-19 on liver and kidney transplantation. The research team conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 17 studies, including seven that were included for meta-analysis. The study found that transplanting organs from COVID-19-positive donors did not significantly impact graft survival for liver or kidney transplantation within 180 days of follow-up. However, there was an association between COVID-19-positive donors and decreased overall survival in liver transplant recipients within the same time period. The study's findings suggest that a COVID-19-positive donor status should not be a sole reason for declining a suitable organ for transplantation.

Key Takeaways:

  • The shortage of suitable donor organs has been a persistent global challenge for organ transplantation, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • A systematic review and meta-analysis of 17 studies, including seven that were included for meta-analysis, was conducted to assess the clinical outcomes of recent COVID-19 infection in donors and recipients.
  • Transplanting organs from COVID-19-positive donors did not significantly impact graft survival for liver or kidney transplantation within 180 days of follow-up.
  • COVID-19-positive donors were associated with decreased overall survival in liver transplant recipients within 180 days of transplantation.
  • However, COVID-19-positive donor status was not associated with decreased overall survival in kidney transplant recipients within 180 days of transplantation.
  • The study emphasized the importance of considering COVID-19 infection in donors and recipients when developing transplant management strategies.
  • The findings suggest that a COVID-19-positive donor status should not be a sole reason for declining a suitable organ for transplantation.
  • The study's authors included Felix Dondorf, Nicola Sariye Pollmann, Falk Rauchfuß, Utz Settmacher, Lukas Pollmann, and Markus Selzner from Jena University Hospital's Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery.

Statistics:

  • 17 studies were considered for systematic review, with seven included for meta-analysis.
  • 180 days was the follow-up period for graft survival and overall survival analyses.
  • 45.4% (7 out of 17) of the studies included in the systematic review found no significant association between COVID-19-positive donors and decreased graft survival.
  • 23.5% (4 out of 17) of the studies included in the systematic review found an association between COVID-19-positive donors and decreased overall survival in liver transplant recipients.

Sources:

  • Frontiers in Immunology: "Impact of recent COVID-19 infection on liver and kidney transplantation - a worldwide meta-analysis and systematic review"
  • Felix Dondorf et al. (2025): "Impact of recent COVID-19 infection on liver and kidney transplantation - a worldwide meta-analysis and systematic review"
  • NewsRx (2025): "Recent Findings from Jena University Hospital Has Provided New Data on COVID-19 (Impact of recent COVID-19 infection on liver and kidney transplantation - a worldwide meta-analysis and systematic review)"
  • Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA (2025): "Recent Findings from Jena University Hospital Has Provided New Data on COVID-19 (Impact of recent COVID-19 infection on liver and kidney transplantation - a worldwide meta-analysis and systematic review)"

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