Outcomes among Transplant Recipients Hospitalized Due to COVID-19

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“Due to chronic immunosuppression as well as the presence of numerous comorbidities, the risk of developing severe COVID-19 may be high in kidney transplant recipients. Researchers in the United States, Italy, and Spain conducted a retrospective cohort study to examine the clinical outcomes among kidney transplant recipients to identify predictors of poor clinical outcomes. Results of the study were reported in the American Journal of Transplantation [2020;20(11):3140-3148].

The study was led by Paolo Cravedi, MD, PhD, division of nephrology, department of medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York. The cohort included 144 kidney transplant recipients who were hospitalized due to COVID-19 at 12 transplant centers in North America and Europe. The 12 centers were participating in the TANGO International Transplant Consortium. All kidney transplant recipients ≥18 years of age with a functioning allograft who were admitted to a hospital between March 2 and May 15, 2020, were included.”

Read the full study, here.

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Cancer Patients and Transplant Recipients Need Both COVID-19 Vaccine Doses

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“Natural immunity and vaccine responses may be weaker in people with immune suppression, so they should get their second dose promptly

A majority of people with cancer and organ transplant recipients are capable of mounting an immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and can gain immunity from COVID-19 vaccines, according to recent research. But people with immune suppression may have slower and weaker responses to natural infection or vaccination, so it is especially important that they get their second dose on schedule.

People with serious immune suppression are at risk for more severe complications and death due to COVID-19. This group includes cancer patients who use immune-suppressing therapy, transplant recipients who take immunosuppressive drugs to prevent organ rejection and people with AIDS (advanced, uncontrolled HIV disease).

It is well known that immunosuppressed people can have weaker immune responses to natural infection and vaccination, but SARS-CoV-2 immunity in this population is not well understood. What’s more, cancer patients on treatment and other people with advanced immune suppression were generally excluded from COVID-19 vaccine trials (though people with well-controlled HIV could enroll).”

Read the full article, here.

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Signs & Symptoms That Your Body is Rejecting Your Transplanted Kidney or Heart

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A person living with a transplanted organ can live a healthy and normal life.

However, to increase your chances of long-term success, experts say that immunosuppressants (anti-rejection medications) must be taken every day as directed.1

“A transplanted organ is seen as a foreign object—or an ‘unwelcome visitor’—by your body,” says Nikhil Agrawal, MD, a nephrologist with Beth Israel Deaconess in Boston. “That is why your body’s immune system works hard to react against—or ‘reject’—the transplanted organ. Immunosuppressants suppress your body’s immune system and prevent rejection.”

The signs and symptoms of rejection could differ based on your transplanted organ. Below are a few things to look out for if you are a kidney- or heart-transplant recipient.

Read the full article, here.

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After Two Kidney Transplants, Tiffany Archibald is On Top of Her Game More Than Ever

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If you play basketball for a prestigious program like the University of Southern California (USC) or professionally in China and Europe, it’s a pretty good bet you are an athlete at the top of your game.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is just not something that should rear its ugly head if your life is about proper nutrition, consistent exercise, and high-level competition.

Right?

Tiffany Archibald would beg to differ.

Read Tiffany’s full story, here.

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Recipe: Chicken Curry

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Sedalia, Colorado, can be prepared in 40 minutes. The people who eat it, however, will think you spent hours crafting it.

It is a low-calorie entree (362 calories per serving), and is also low in carbs, sodium, and cholesterol.

Andrea Ogg uses low-sodium chicken broth and says you can use low-sodium canned tomatoes—although she says fresh tomatoes are preferred.

Ingredients:

Spice blend

  • 1 1/2 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric
  • 1/2 tsp fennel seeds, crushed in a small bag with a meat mallet
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp ground mustard
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves

Curry

  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, chopped (1 cup)
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced (1 1/2 Tbsp)
  • 1 Tbsp peeled and minced fresh ginger
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 3/4 cup drained canned low sodium diced tomatoes or peeled, seeded, diced fresh tomatoes (preferred)
  • Salt, to taste
  • Cayenne pepper, to taste
  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced into 1 1/4-inch cubes
  • 1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tsp water (optional— I have not needed this)
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • 2 Tbsp chopped cilantro

Directions:

  1. In a small mixing bowl whisk together all the spices in the spice blend, set aside.
  2. Heat olive oil in a 12-inch non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
  3. Add in onion and sauté until slightly golden brown, about 4 – 6 minutes.
  4. Add in garlic and ginger, sauté 30 seconds more then add in spice blend and sauté 30 seconds.
  5. Pour in chicken broth and tomatoes and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer 5 minutes.
  6. Pour mixture into a blender then cover with lid and remove lid insert, cover opening with a clean folded kitchen rag.
  7. Blend mixture until well pureed and smooth then return to skillet and heat skillet over medium-high heat.
  8. Season sauce with salt and cayenne pepper (start with about 1/2 tsp salt and a few dashes cayenne then add more to taste) then add in chicken.
  9. Bring to a simmer then reduce heat to medium-low, cover skillet with lid and simmer until chicken has cooked through, stirring occasionally, about 8 – 12 minutes.
  10. During the last minute of cooking stir in the cornstarch and water slurry if desired, to thicken sauce slightly (or if needed thin with a little chicken broth).
  11. Stir in cream then serve warm with fresh cilantro leaves as garnish.

The recipe recommends serving over rice, but we do not as rice is simply empty calories. If you need a carb with it, go with freshly toasted naan. Much tastier!

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Managing Anxiety as a Transplant Patient in a COVID-19 World

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Transplant recipients never needed a COVID-19 pandemic to be anxious about infections.

Long before the pandemic, living with a transplanted organ had its own caution, stress, and anxiety about illness.

Throw social isolation into the mix and your anxiety is only made worse.

Social Distancing’s Impact on Transplant Recipients Mental Health

Isabel Stenzel Byrnes has lived 16 years with a double-lung transplant. Byrnes is a licensed social worker and grief counselor from California who says she started to feel the effects of social isolation about two months into the pandemic.

“I was starting to really find myself in a slump, and missing the energy shared with human beings,” said Byrnes, who copes by taking socially distanced walks with people.

One positive aspect of life during COVID-19 is that today we have computers, tablets, and Smartphones, which can be useful resources to visually and auditorily connect transplant recipients with their doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, social workers, colleagues, and friends.

Read the full article, here.

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How Kevin Schnurr Honors His Gift of a New Kidney

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On May 6, 2014, all Kevin Schnurr had to do was remember his name and date of birth.

So—on May 6, 2014—Kevin awoke from surgery, and doctors and nurses asked him his name and date of birth.

Kevin successfully replied, “My name is Kevin Schnurr … and I was born on March 31, 1986.”

Kevin then furthered his response.

“I’m also in a Stony Brook Hospital recovery room … and my best friend, Matt, just gave me a kidney.”

The doctors and nurses laughed, and replied, “Yes. Matt did … and the kidney is working!”

Read Kevin’s full story, here.

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The Most Important Topics to Talk to Your Kidney Doctor About After a Transplant

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You have been given the gift of a kidney donation.

You have energy and strength that you haven’t had in a while.

You have a new lease on life, and it’s a new day.

Now what?

Be Sure to Ask Your Transplant Doctor About These Important Topics

Now that you have had a kidney transplant, you are going to want to lead your healthiest life so you can protect your gift.

Read the full article, here.

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