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Comparison of the Different Medications for COVID-19 in Kidney Transplant Recipients
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  • 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:fuyingxin@vip.163.com

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