Covid-19 and corneal transplants
Posted: Wed 25 Mar 2020 9:54 am
We have received the following letter from NHS Blood and Transplant which I hope will reassure those who have had a transplant and have no other underlying condition.
The e-mail accompanying the letter gave the following summary -
"Fit, healthy recipients who are not immune suppressed are not included in the vulnerable list, it is only if they have other conditions".
24th March 2020
Dear Cornea / Tissue transplant recipient
Important information about COVID-19
In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, we would like to provide some general information for recipients of cornea / tissue transplants and advice around whether you should consider yourself in a vulnerable group.
Patients who are otherwise healthy and have had a corneal transplant or tissue transplant in the past should follow current government advice on self-isolation as required. Those who are currently on immunosuppressive drugs, or oral steroids, or suffer from one of the other conditions listed must strictly self-isolate in line with the government advice for vulnerable groups and contact your surgeon for further advice. If you have recently stopped immune suppressive treatment, it may continue to reduce your body’s immunity for 6 weeks and you should self-isolate for at least this length of time.
It is reassuring that transmission of respiratory viruses such as COVID-19 by blood transfusion or tissue transplantation has not been reported.
For any specific concerns in relation to your underlying disease which required or still requires a cornea / tissue transplant, or any other treatments necessary for your condition, we would recommend strongly that you seek advice from your surgeon.
We very much hope that you will stay safe and healthy during these challenging times.
Yours faithfully
Jeremy Prydal - Chair, Ocular Tissue Advisory Group
Akila Chandrasekar - Consultant, Tissue and Eye Services, NHSBT
Ulrike Paulus – Consultant, Tissue and Eye Services, NHSBT
The e-mail accompanying the letter gave the following summary -
"Fit, healthy recipients who are not immune suppressed are not included in the vulnerable list, it is only if they have other conditions".
24th March 2020
Dear Cornea / Tissue transplant recipient
Important information about COVID-19
In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, we would like to provide some general information for recipients of cornea / tissue transplants and advice around whether you should consider yourself in a vulnerable group.
Patients who are otherwise healthy and have had a corneal transplant or tissue transplant in the past should follow current government advice on self-isolation as required. Those who are currently on immunosuppressive drugs, or oral steroids, or suffer from one of the other conditions listed must strictly self-isolate in line with the government advice for vulnerable groups and contact your surgeon for further advice. If you have recently stopped immune suppressive treatment, it may continue to reduce your body’s immunity for 6 weeks and you should self-isolate for at least this length of time.
It is reassuring that transmission of respiratory viruses such as COVID-19 by blood transfusion or tissue transplantation has not been reported.
For any specific concerns in relation to your underlying disease which required or still requires a cornea / tissue transplant, or any other treatments necessary for your condition, we would recommend strongly that you seek advice from your surgeon.
We very much hope that you will stay safe and healthy during these challenging times.
Yours faithfully
Jeremy Prydal - Chair, Ocular Tissue Advisory Group
Akila Chandrasekar - Consultant, Tissue and Eye Services, NHSBT
Ulrike Paulus – Consultant, Tissue and Eye Services, NHSBT