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10.5606/tgkdc.dergisi.2020.20291
Heart transplant recipient survivor from COVID-19: The first case of Turkey
Güle Çınar1, Cahit Sarıcaoğlu2, Bahadır İnan2, İrem Dinçer3, Mehmet Çakıcı2, Tamer Sayın3, Alpay Azap1, Ahmet Rüçhan Akar2
1Department of Infectious Diseases and clinical Microbiology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
2Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
3Department of Cardiology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
DOI : 10.5606/tgkdc.dergisi.2020.20291
Any highly infectious and rapidly spreading disease is a
primary concern for immunocompromised solid organ
transplant recipients. The number of data about the spectrum
of clinical illness, the treatment modalities, and the outcomes
of COVID-19 in this vulnerable population is scant and still
remains empirical. Herein, we report the first COVID-19
case of a heart transplant recipient in Turkey who presented
with fever, postnasal discharge, and myalgias for two days.
The possibility of lung involvement was ruled out by thoracic
computed tomography. Despite stable vital signs, we reduced
the intensity of immunosuppressive therapy and maintained
home self-isolation promptly. We also commenced a five-day
course of hydroxychloroquine 200 mg q12h initially. After
confirmation of real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerasechain-
reaction testing of the nasopharyngeal swab positive for
COVID-19, the patient was hospitalized. After a loading dose
of favipiravir 1,600 mg b.i.d., the patient received a five-day
course of favipiravir 600 mg q12h. He was discharged with
cure after 23 days of hospital isolation and treatment. In
conclusion, treatment process can be affected by the daily
electrocardiography, hand-held portable echocardiography,
myocardial injury markers, and pulse oximeter for selfmonitoring
in the follow-up of previous heart transplant
recipients suffering from COVID-19. The lack of treatment
protocols in the solid organ transplant recipients with COVID-19
infection and the controversies about the protective effect of
immunosuppression invite a global and update discussion.
Keywords : COVID-19; heart transplantation; immunocompromised
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