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Rationale: Liver transplantation is the only curative treatment for diffuse end-stage liver disease and some liver neoplasms. The amount of these interventions in the Moscow Region is very low.Aim: To analyze the results of the first series of liver transplantations done in the Moscow Regional Research and Clinical Institute (MONIKI), to compare it with those done currently in Russia and worldwide, and to establish the optimal volume and trend of development for this new regional center.Materials and methods: More than 200 patients with liver cirrhosis, polycystosis and alveococcus invasion have been examined from May 2016 to August 2018; 70 of them were eligible for liver transplantation and were put on the waiting list. From October 2016 to July 2018, 29  liver transplantations from deceased donors (including 2  retransplantations) and one living related transplantation of the right lobe have been performed. Among the indications to the transplantation, the leading one was viral (HCV or HBV-related) cirrhosis. Four patients were diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma.Results: The waitlist mortality was 19%. Median waiting time was 5.5 [3; 9] (0 to 27) months. Until now, the results were followed till 22 months, with median follow-up of 7  [2; 13] months. The survival rate of the recipients was 96.4%, of the grafts 93.3%. In-patient mortality was 3.6%. Early allograft dysfunction was seen in 33%  of cases. Median length of the in-hospital stay was 22 [19; 25] days.Conclusion: The successful implementation of the liver transplant program at its initial stage demonstrates the results that meet current efficacy criteria. Achieved level of organ procurement from deceased donors in the Moscow Region could ensure at least 30  liver transplantations annually, with current facilities and a potential for further growth. An increase in the transplantation number would depend on the improvement of transplantation service facilities in MONIKI and on the stable financial support of the program. Finally, it would promote increased availability of this transplantation technology in the region, lower waitlist mortality and shorter waiting times.

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Introduction. The pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is characterized by significant morbidity and mortality. Kidney transplant recipients are at high risk of a more severe course of coronavirus infection due to ongoing immunosuppression, a high comorbidity index, and elder age.Aim. To investigate the features of the clinical course, the treatment applied and also the outcomes of the new coronavirus infection in patients after kidney transplantation.Material and methods. The retrospective study included 69 adult kidney transplant recipients continuously followed-up by our transplant nephrology service and who fell ill with COVID-19 from April 2020 till February 2021. The comparison study of the clinical pattern, laboratory and instrumental test results, treatment features and outcomes was made.Results. The most common clinical symptoms were hyperthermia (85.5%, n= 59), weakness (65.2%, n=45) and cough (52.2%, n=36), other symptoms were significantly less common. In 89.5% of cases (n=60), the virus ribonucleic acid was detected at least once by polymerase chain reaction; in 10.5% of cases (n=7), the polymerase chain reaction results were negative. According to CT, the extent of lung tissue lesion was identified as CT1 stage in 28 patients (46.7%), CT2 stage in 24 (40%); and only in 8 (13%) patients the lesion was assessed as CT3. Later on the number of patients with more than 50% lung damage increased to 16 (26.7%) and in 1 case the severity of lung tissue damage was consistent with CT4. Typical features for all patients were anemia and lymphopenia of varying severity, hypoproteinemia, increased serum creatinine and urea, C-reactive protein, ferritin, procalcitonin and D-dimer in the laboratory test results. The treatment included antiviral, antibacterial, anticoagulant therapy, corticosteroids, biological anti-cytokine drugs. In 95% of cases (n=66), the maintenance immunosuppressive therapy was changed up to complete withdrawal of the certain components. The patient survival rate with a functioning graft was 76.8% (n=53), the graft loss was observed in 4.3% of cases (n=3), and the lethal outcome was reported in 18.8% (n=13). The cause of death was a severe respiratory distress syndrome with multiple organ dysfunction complicated by sepsis and septic shock in 8 patients (61.5%). Invasive ventilation and hemodialysis were associated with 17.2 (p<0.00001) and 21.5 (p<0.0006) times higher risk of death, respectively.Conclusions. Severe lymphopenia is associated with a clinical worsening of the COVID-19 course. Predictors of fatal outcome were identified as follows: bacterial sepsis, invasive ventilation, the need for renal replacement therapy (p<0.00001). Immunosuppression adjustment should be personalized considering the severity of infection, age, comorbidities, post-transplant timeframe, and the risk of rejection.><0.00001). Immunosuppression adjustment should be personalized considering the severity of infection, age, comorbidities, post-transplant timeframe, and the risk of rejection.