COVID IgG KTx
After undergoing SARS-CoV-2 infection, SARS-CoV-2 antibody, called immunoglobulin IgG, can now be measured in a blood sample. In organ transplanted / immunosuppressed patients we know that any immune response is usually weaker. As of today, we do not know whether kidney transplanted patients form SARS-CoV-2 IgG after undergoing infection or for how long these antibodies may be present or can be detected. We therefore wish to initiate a nationwide study to investigate this further.
The Norwegian Kidney Register has an overview of the patients that have undergone kidney transplants who have contacted the health care system and been infected, i.e. tested positive on SARS-CoV-2 in a naso-pharynx test. These we now believe are SARS-CoV-2 IgG positive (but we har no certain). Some of those who are registered have had a very light degree of SARS-CoV-2 and we assume that several kidney transplant patients may have been infected without having contacted the health care system.
In this study we would like to ask all kidney transplants who have given consent to the Norwegian Kidney Register to take a blood sample which is then sent / analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 IgG at Rikshospitalet.The study will give us answers as to whether patients undergone kidney transplants form SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (IgG). If so, the study will also give us answers about whether immunosuppressed patients may have been infected by SARS-CoV-2 and had a very mild course or if they may have had other symptoms.
We aim to get an infection status on all patients undergone kidney transplants in Norway before "COVID-19 wave 2" comes as the authorities have predicted in August / September. Then the results of this study will also reveal whether the IgG positive patients are "protected" against new COVID-19.The answers to a sample taken locally will go to the contact person at each of the 26 participating hospitals in Norway who follow kidney transplant patients. A copy of the test answers will be handed over to the study management directly from the laboratory at the National Hospital.
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