Results:
We conducted a retrospective study of 91 LT recipients at an LT center
in Ankara City Hospital, with sample collection taking place between
September 2020- March 2021. Serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM + IgG results were
positive in 32 of 91 patients. Seven (21.8%) of 32 patients included in
the study were not included in the analysis because they had a known
history of OCVID-19. Three of seven (42.8 %) had self-limited disease,
and none required hospitalization or supplemental oxygen treatment for
COVİD-19. On the other hand, three of seven (42.8%) needed
hospitalization, and one of seven (14.4 %) was already in the hospital
when he was diagnosed with COVID-19. Twenty-one patients (21/28, 75%)
had no history of SARS-COV-2 infection and specific symptoms. We tested
all patients with positive serum antibodies for a naso-oropharyngeal
swab PCR test and, the results were negative.
The remaining 84 patients were included in the study (median age 52.1
years [IQR 21-68]; 60 (76.2%) men, 14 (23.8 %) women).
Hypertension was the most common comorbid disease (15/84, 17.8 %),
followed by type 2 diabetes (10/84, 11.9 %) (Table-1). All participants
were contacted and retrospectively surveyed for clinical symptoms of
COVID-19 in the prior six months (Table-2). There were no significant
differences between patients’ symptoms with positive test results (serum
Ig G+IgM) and negative test results. While 7 of 28 patients with
positive serum antibody test were previously symptomatic patients who
were diagnosed, seven patients developed at least one nonspecific
symptom, but there was no diagnosis of COVID-19. Fourteen (50%) of a
total of 28 patients were followed up completely asymptomatic. All
seropositive patients for SARS-Cov-2 were compared with seronegative
patients in terms of symptoms. There was no relationship between the
findings of the participants’ system inquiries and COVID-19
seropositivity (Table-3).
Characteristics of seronegative and seropositive participants were
examined. While the mean age of the seropositive participants was 51.5 ±
9.8 years, the mean age of the seronegative group was 52.3 ± 11.5 years
(p: 0.378). There was no significant difference between the two groups
in terms of gender, body mass index (BMI), aspartate aminotransferase
(AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (Table-2).
Covid antibody positivity was observed in four (36.3%) of 11 people
with a history of risky contact with people diagnosed with COVID 19.
Serum SARS-COV-2 IgM + IgG antibody positivity was detected in six
(30%) of 20 patients with a history of hospitalization. There was no
significant difference between hospitalization and serum antibody
positivity (p:0.554).