loading page

Comparison of the Different Medications for COVID-19 in Kidney Transplant Recipients
  • +5
  • Yingxin Fu,
  • Jianyong Pan,
  • Weijun Chen,
  • Yitao Zheng,
  • Zixuan Wu,
  • Yongdong Liu,
  • Yuanzheng Peng,
  • Hongzhou Lu
Yingxin Fu
Second Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Jianyong Pan
Second Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology
Author Profile
Weijun Chen
Second Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology
Author Profile
Yitao Zheng
Second Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology
Author Profile
Zixuan Wu
Second Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology
Author Profile
Yongdong Liu
Second Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology
Author Profile
Yuanzheng Peng
Second Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology
Author Profile
Hongzhou Lu
Second Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology
Author Profile

Abstract

Background We analyzed the effects of small-molecule antiviral treatment for coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) Omicron strain in kidney transplant recipients. Methods We enrolled 140 kidney transplant patients admitted for COVID-19-related pneumonia were treated using small-molecule antivirals. Patients were divided into three groups: azvudine (n=62), paxlovid (n=49), and a combination of azvudine+paxlovid (A+P, n=29). Differences in clinical outcomes owing to COVID-19 infections were compared among three groups. Results Paxlovid group had a higher proportion of comorbid diabetes than the other two groups (P=0.032). There were differences in the clinical typing of the coronavirus , with the highest proportion of heavy and critical cases in the A+P group (35.5%). The immunosuppression prior to infection did not differ among the groups; however, after adjusting for immunosuppression during antiviral treatment, differences were observed. Of the 140 patients, 125 (89.29%) had fever, 114 (81.43%) had cough, and 66 (47.1%) had malaise. Combination of two or more symptoms were found in 90% patients. Mean length of hospitalization was slightly longer in the combination group than in the azvudine and paxlovid groups. Four deaths, all in the A+P group; five cases of loss of function, two in the paxlovid group and three in the A+P group; and acute kidney injury occurred in 30 patients with 7 in the azvudine, 17 in paxlovid, and 6 in A+P groups. Conclusion The use of small-molecule medications may be the optimal treatment approach; however, they should be modified based on the patients’ conditions, such as clinical symptoms, laboratory results, paraclinicals, and examinations.