Does Antiretroviral Therapy Prevent Human T-Lymphotropic Virus 1 Transmission From a Seropositive Donor to a Kidney Transplant Recipient? A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 produces a latent infection and disease with poor prognosis. Although its transmission during solid-organ transplant and development of the disease has been described, it is not clear whether antiretroviral treatment could prevent it. We report the first kidney transplant of a donor with human T-lymphotropic virus positivity to a negative recipient who was under antiretroviral treatment without evidence of transmission. We reviewed the literature, which included reports of 55 solid-organ transplant donors with human T-lymphotropic virus positivity to negative recipients, showing high rates of transmission and disease. The benefits of antiretroviral treatment require evaluation in further studies.