Table 2.
Laboratory biomarkers and immunosuppressive regimens in 24 hospitalized LT recipients with COVID-19 in severe and non-severe COVID-19 groups
| Variable | Non-severe N = 15 |
Severe N = 9 |
p-value | 95% Confidence Interval | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower | Upper | ||||
| Laboratory parameters | |||||
| WBC (max) (count/µl) | 14.05 ± 6.02 | 16.12 ± 9.02 | 0.50 | -8.41 | 4.27 |
| Lymphocyte (onset) (count/µl) | 1.37 ± 1.31 | 1.48 ± 2.74 | 0.10 | -1.82 | 1.60 |
| Lymphocyte count (min) (count/µl) | 0.79 ± 0.94 | 0.22 ± 0.13 | 0.002* | -0.10 | 1.22 |
| PT (max) (sec) | 17.78 ± 5.82 | 24.37 ± 8.79 | 0.05 | -12.75 | -0.42 |
| AST (max) (ng/ml) (unit/L) | 207.60 ± 475.82 | 430.44 ± 585.08 | 0.06 | -675.99 | 230.30 |
| ALT (max) (ng/ml) (unit/L) | 182.47 ± 217.48 | 349.67 ± 442.58 | 0.29 | -445.55 | 111.15 |
| Bill (max) (ng/ml) (mg/dL) | 2.52 ± 2.66 | 5.28 ± 4.78 | 0.12 | -6.57 | 1.05 |
| ALB (min) (g/dL) | 3.21 ± 0.78 | 2.600 ± 0.75 | 0.07 | − 0.073 | 1.30 |
| ESR (max) (1st /hr) (mm/hr) (N = 17) | 43.55 ± 27.93 | 36.00 ± 27.67 | 0.60 | -22.58 | 37.67 |
| CRP (max) (mg/dL) (N = 21) | 45.43 ± 54.22 | 145.71 ± 78.10 | 0.006* | -161.08 | -39.48 |
|
Covid specific treatments No. (%) |
|||||
| HCQ | 2 (13.3%) | 2 (22.2%) | 0.61 | ||
| Remdesivir | 8 (53.3%) | 6 (66.6%) | 0.67 | - | - |
| Methylprednisolone (pulse) | 5 (33.3%) | 4 (44.4%) | 0.67 | ||
| IVIG | 1 (6.6%) | 4 (44.4%) | 0.04* | ||
| Tocilizumab | 0 | 2 (22.2%) | 0.13 | ||
| Baseline immunosuppressive No. (%) | |||||
| Tacrolimus | 11 (73.3%) | 3 (33.3%) | 0.09 | ||
| Everolimus | 2 (13.3%) | 1 (11.1%) | 1 | - | - |
| Mycophenolate | 11 (73.3%) | 2 (22.2%) | 0.03* | ||
| Cyclosporin | 0 | 1 (11.1%) | 0.37 | ||
| Corticosteroid | 11 (73.3%) | 4 (44.4%) | 0.21 | ||
| Baseline immunosuppressive dose(mg/day) | |||||
| Tacrolimus | 3.13 ± 2.38 | 1.00 ± 1.58 | 0.02* | 0.27 | 3.99 |
| Everolimus | 0.30 ± 0.84 | 0.167 ± 0.50 | 0.83 | -0.50 | 0.77 |
| Mycophenolate | 1133.33 ± 949.39 | 326.67 ± 648.38 | 0.02* | 61.37 | 1551.95 |
| Cyclosporin | 0 | 22.22 ± 66.66 | 0.19 | -73.46 | 29.02 |
| Corticosteroid | 11.47 ± 8.95 | 6.67 ± 8.66 | 0.18 | -2.93 | 12.53 |
| Immunosuppressives during hospitalization No. (%) | |||||
| CNI | 5 (33.3%) | 1 (11.1%) | 0.35 | - | - |
| CNI + Everolimus | 3 (20%) | 2 (22.2%) | 1 | ||
| CNI + Mycophenolate | 5 (33.3%) | 3 (33.3%) | 1 | ||
| CNI + Everolimus + Mycophenolate | 2 (13.3%) | 3 (33.3%) | 0.32 | ||
*Statistically significant
LT, liver transplant; WBC, white blood count; PT, prothrombin time; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; Bill, bilirubin; ALB, albumin; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP, C-reactive protein; HCQ, hydroxy chloroquine; IVIG, Intravenous immunoglobulin; CNI, calcineurin inhibitor