Hepatitis C–Positive Heart Transplantation: Good Outcomes and Shortened Wait Times

A large single-center experience shows markedly reduced wait times and 1-year survival similar to that observed in recipients of hepatitis C–negative hearts.

The opioid epidemic has resulted in a significant increase in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-exposed donors. A recently published clinical trial of HCV-positive to HCV-negative transplantation of chest organs demonstrated excellent 6-month survival and HCV cure when direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) were started immediately after transplant (NEJM JW Infect Dis Jun 2019 and N Engl J Med 2019; 380:1606). Now, investigators report a single center's experience using HCV-exposed heart donors and delayed HCV treatment.

Beginning in 2016, a clinical protocol was initiated allowing the use of HCV-exposed heart donors. Eighty HCV-exposed donors (10 seropositive but nucleic acid test [NAT] negative) donated to 78 HCV-seronegative and 2 HCV-seropositive recipie…

Reviewing Author

Daniel Kaul, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNobelpharma; Pfizer

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Transplantation (Program Committee)

Daniel Kaul, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNobelpharma; Pfizer

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Transplantation (Program Committee)

Hepatitis C–Positive Heart Transplantation: Good Outcomes and Shortened Wait Times

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Reviewing Author