Breaking barriers: Successful outcomes of hepatitis C virus D+/R- transplants in HIV+ recipients

Abstract

Transplantation from donors with hepatitis C virus (HCV) viremia to recipients without HCV-viremia (HCV D⁺/R^-) is common, but no data exist for recipients with HIV or donors with HCV/HIV coinfection. We assessed outcomes of HCV D⁺/R^- transplants within 3 HIV Organ Policy Equity Act studies of HIV⁺ abdominal transplantation to recipients with HIV between 2017 and 2023. Eighteen kidney and 6 liver transplant recipients with HIV received organs from 19 donors with HCV viremia, including 7 with HCV/HIV coinfection. Median recipient age was 58 years, 96% were male, and median waitlist time was 1 year. All recipients had undetectable HIV RNA at time of transplant with median cluster of differentiation 4 count 499 cells/mm³. HCV/HIV-coinfected donors had median cluster of differentiation 4 count 210 cells/mm³, and 4 of the 7 had detectable HIV RNA. HCV treatment with direct-acting antivirals was initiated at median 33 days after transplant and sustained virologic response was achieved in 23 of the 23 treated recipients without HCV-related adverse events; data unavailable for 1 participant. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated 100% 1-year and 96% 3-year survival. Graft survival was 96% at 1 and 3 years. HCV D⁺/R^- abdominal transplantation, including donors with HCV/HIV coinfection, demonstrates favorable patient and graft survival in recipients with HIV and is a viable strategy to increase organ utilization.

Keywords: HIV; HOPE Act; hepatitis C virus; organ transplantation.