(419) Serological Evaluation for Sars-cov-2 in Pediatric Heart Transplant Recipients and Patients on Pediatric Heart Transplant Waiting List in a Quaternary Hospital

PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic has been a global reality for over two years. Heart disease patients and transplant recipients are vulnerable groups to the aggravation of the disease, considering, also, that the infection can cause or worsen conditions such as myocarditis and heart failure. Although not all patients infected by Sars-Cov-2 develop IgG antibodies, it is known that serological studies have great importance for the comprehension of the virus's behavior in a specific population, as it can suggest the status of the epidemic in a community. This study aims to analyze the serological profile for COVID-19 in patients before and after pediatric heart transplant. METHODS: A cross-sectional cohort was performed in children and adults with heart disease, before and after heart transplant. Serologies for IgG and IgM antibodies for Sars-CoV-2 were collected in patients of the Pediatric Cardiology and Congenital Heart Diseases unit of a Brazilian hospital between January and August 2022. In total, 174 patients were recruited: 28 on waiting list and 146 recipients. Information such as demographics (age, sex, state of origin), type of heart disease (congenital or acquired) and time after transplant were analyzed. RESULTS: OF THE RECRUITED PATIENTS, 144 ATTENDED THE SEROLOGICAL TEST: : 21 pre-transplant and 123 post-transplant. 60 patients had positive IgG (41,67%), and 21, positive IgM (14,58%). In the post-transplant group, 50 patients had positive IgG (40,65%) and 21, positive IgM (17,07%); in the pre-transplant group, 10 patients had positive IgG (47,62%) and there was no positive IgM. In total, 76 patients had no positive results for either antibodies (52,78%): 11 being pre-transplant (52,38%) and 65, post-transplant (52,85%). CONCLUSION: The study made it possible to identify antibodies in heart disease patients before and after heart transplant in approximately half of the population studied. This study reinforces the need for multidisciplinary orientation of patients and families on COVID-19 prevention and complications.