Organ Donors with Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis C Virus: Expanding the Donor Pool

Abstract

Using organs from donors with treatable infections is a strategy to increase the quality and number of organs for transplantation. For HIV, pilot studies of kidney and liver transplantation from donors with HIV to recipients with HIV demonstrate excellent early outcomes. However, the number of donors and transplants per year remains lower than projected due to several barriers. For HCV, the use of organs from donors with HCV has expanded to recipients without HCV due to safe, effective direct-acting antivirals for HCV, which are well-tolerated in transplant recipients. Studies across organ types demonstrate good outcomes and shorter wait times.

Keywords: Antiretroviral therapy; Deceased donor transplantation; Direct-acting antiviral agents; HIV Organ Policy Equity Act; HIV transplantation; Hepatitis C virus; Solid organ transplantation.