Evolution of Respiratory Function in Lung Transplant Patients With Moderate to Severe Covid-19 Infection

The SARS-Cov-2 infection pandemic has caused a large number of acute respiratory failures and deaths across the world. Certain factors have been identified as associated with a higher risk of developing a severe form and dying. Immunosuppression has been identified as a risk factor for progressing to a severe form.

Lung transplant patients were particularly vulnerable during this period, with a high frequency of respiratory compromise, sometimes progressing towards acute respiratory distress syndrome and, at a later stage, towards fibrotic forms. The impact of the infection on the immunological status of the patient and on the tolerance of the transplant have been little studied. The various treatments implemented during the pandemic have rapidly evolved (immunotherapy, vaccination, convalescent plasma transfusion, etc.) which may have modulated this risk. The evolution of respiratory function may be linked to the respiratory infection itself, or to the severity of respiratory damage during the infection. It is therefore relevant to compare patients with a moderate form of COVID-19 (non-intubated patients) to patients with severe forms, requiring invasive ventilation in intensive care. The evolution of respiratory function after infection has not yet been studied.