Effect of Hepatitis C Positivity on Survival in Adult Patients Undergoing Heart Transplantation (from the United Network for Organ Sharing Database)

Hepatitis C and heart transplantation: An update

There are limited data regarding heart transplantation in the setting of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in either recipients or donors, as the practice was infrequent, given concerns of worse post-transplant outcomes. This changed dramatically after the development of highly effective HCV therapies, namely direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). Additionally, nucleic acid testing currently in use establishes more precisely the risk of HCV transmission from donors. As a result, chronic HCV infection in itself is no longer a barrier for heart transplant candidates, and the use of HCV-positive organs for HCV-infected and non-infected transplant candidates has increased dramatically. A review of the literature revealed that in the pre-DAA era, HCV seropositive heart transplant patients had a higher mortality than their seronegative counterparts. However, short-term data suggest that the differences in survival have been erased in the DAA era. Heart transplantation from HCV-viremic donors to HCV-uninfected recipients has become increasingly common as the number of deceased donors with HCV viremia has increased over the past years. Preliminary outcome reports are very encouraging, although further data are needed with regard to long-term safety. New information continues to be incorporated to optimize protocols that guide this practice.

Expanding heart transplantation in 2022 and beyond

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Despite advances in the technology of mechanical circulatory support, the need for heart transplantation continues to grow. The longevity of heart transplants continues to be superior to mechanical solutions, though the short-term differences are shrinking. In this review, we cover three timely developments and summarize the recent literature.

RECENT FINDINGS

After stagnant rates of heart transplant activity for some years, recently, transplant volume has increased. The developments that have ignited interest have been the use of hepatitis C infected donors, which can now be safely transplanted with the advent of curative oral regimens, and the worldwide use of donors following withdrawal of life support as opposed to traditional brain death donors. In addition, the recent experience of human cardiac xenotransplantation has been very exciting, and though it is not of clinical utility yet, it holds the promise for a virtually unlimited supply of organs at some time in the future.

SUMMARY

Much work remains to be done, but together, all three of these developments are exciting and important to be aware of in the future. Each will contribute to additional donors for human heart transplantation and hopefully will alleviate suffering and death on the waiting list.

Utilization of HCV Viremic Kidneys with Genotyping/Subtyping-Free Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir Treatment Strategy: Experience from China

Background. Owing to the advent of pangenotypic direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment, utilization of HCV-infected deceased donor kidneys with simplified genotyping/subtyping-free sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL) treatment strategy is now becoming a promising strategy for expanding the organ donor pool. Methods. This retrospective, comparative, single-center study included HCV viremic donor kidneys that were transplanted to 9 HCV-positive (HCV Ab-positive) recipients (D+/R+ group) and 14 HCV-negative recipients (D+/R- group) from May 2018 to January 2021. Both groups received prophylaxis with SOF/VEL treatment within 1-week posttransplant devoid of HCV genotyping/subtyping. The primary outcomes were sustained virologic response 12 weeks after completion of therapy (SVR12) and graft survival at 1-year posttransplant. Results. Baseline characteristics were similar between the HCV D+/R- and D+/R+ groups. The mean age of all recipients was $39.09\pm 9.65$ (SD) years, and 73.9% were male. A total of 92.9% (13 out of 14) recipients had pretreatment HCV viremia in the D+/R- group. The pretreatment HCV viral load in the D+/R+ group (5.98, log 10 IU/mL; IQR, 5.28-6.53) was significantly higher than that in the D+/R- group (3.61, log 10 IU/mL; IQR, 2.57-4.57). After SOF/VEL treatment, SVR12 was achieved in all recipients, with a 100% 1-year patient and graft survival rates. The D+/R+ group had a higher incidence of abnormal liver function (44.4% vs. 7.1%). No significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of DGF, acute rejection, ALT, serum creatinine, and eGFR within 1-year posttransplant. No severe adverse events associated with either HCV viremia or SOF/VEL were observed. Conclusions. Using a simplified genotyping/subtyping-free SOF/VEL treatment strategy, kidneys from hepatitis C viremic donors for both infected and uninfected recipients presented with safe, excellent, and comparable 1-year outcomes, which can safely expand the donor pool. HCV-positive donor kidneys should be utilized regularly, regardless of the recipient’s HCV status.

Approaches and strategies to manage the hepatitis C virus-positive heart donor

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Cardiac transplantation remains the treatment of choice for patients with advanced heart failure, but is limited by a donor organ shortage. Utilization of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive donors has been recently adopted to expand access to heart transplantation. We review the history of HCV heart transplantation, modern drug therapy, and recent outcomes.

RECENT FINDINGS

Since the advent of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy, several single-center studies, and retrospective reviews have demonstrated good short-term outcomes, shorter waitlist times, and clearance of viremia with recipients of HCV-positive hearts. Two principle approaches to treatment of recipients of HCV viremic donors are utilized. In the prophylactic strategy, therapy is initiated before viremia is detected compared with the preemptive approach where initiation of DAA is delayed until after viremia is detected. Future studies are needed to address uncertainty about medium and long-term outcomes of using HCV-positive hearts and to determine the optimal treatment timing and duration.

SUMMARY

Utilization of HCV-positive donors has expanded the heart donor pool and appears safe through the early posttransplant period. We suggest that prophylactic administration of the shortest effective course of a DAA pangenotypic agent should be the current standard of care.

Effect of Hepatitis C Virus Infection on Heart Transplants in the Current Era

BACKGROUND

The effect of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in recipients or donors on heart transplants is less known in the current era after the introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) in 2011.

METHODS

Using the United Network for Organ Sharing registry, 24 871 adult heart transplant recipients between 2005 and 2019 were identified. The trend in prevalence of HCV infected recipients and in utilization of HCV infected donors and their effect on the transplant outcomes were investigated in the past era versus the current era separated by 2011, using Cox proportional hazard regression.

RESULTS

HCV antibody positive recipients (n=520, 2.1%) had stable prevalence (P=0.18). They had a lower survival estimate when compared to HCV antibody negative recipients in the past era (55.3% versus 70.9% at 7 years; hazard ratio (HR), 1.56; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.27-1.91; P<0.001), however not in the current era (73.1% versus 71.5% at 7 years; HR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.75-1.32; P=0.98) (Pinteraction<0.001). Organ use from HCV antibody positive donors (n=371, 1.5%) was concentrated in the recent years (P<0.001) and provided the similar survival estimate up to 2 years (84.2% versus 87.6%; HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.65-1.44; P=0.87). The similar findings were confirmed with a subgroup cohort with positive nucleic acid amplification test (NAT).

CONCLUSIONS

Positive HCV antibody in recipients did not adversely affect the long-term transplant outcomes in the current era. Graft utilization from positive HCV antibody or NAT positive donors are rapidly more prevalent and appeared to be promising up to 2 years posttransplant.

Trends in the use of hepatitis C viremic donor hearts

OBJECTIVE

To examine trends in utilization of hearts from hepatitis C virus (HCV) viremic donors for transplantation, a strategy to expand organ availability.

METHODS

The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) registry was queried for adult patients undergoing heart transplantation between 2015 and 2019. We excluded multiorgan transplants, incomplete data, and loss to follow-up. Nucleic acid testing (NAT) defined HCV status.

RESULTS

Between 2015 and 2019, a total of 11,393 adults underwent heart transplantation: 326 from HCV NAT⁺ donors and 11,067 from NAT^- donors. The use of NAT⁺ hearts increased from 1 in 2015 to 137 in 2018 against a static number of NAT^- organs. The use of NAT⁺ hearts varied significantly across regions and individual centers. More than 75% of NAT⁺ hearts were transplanted in the Northeast region, leading to further travel (mean, 299 miles vs 173 miles for NAT^- transplantations; P < .001), with longer ischemic times (mean: 3.52 hours vs 3.10 hours; P < .001). More than one-half of NAT⁺ transplantations were performed by 5 individual centers, and a single institution accounted for >20% of all transplantations from viremic donors. Survival in the 2 groups did not differ by Kaplan-Meier analysis (P = .240), and multivariable regression showed no differences in acute rejection (P = .455) or 30-day mortality (P = .490). Of the 326 recipients of NAT⁺ hearts, 38 seroconverted and 14 became viremic within 1 year. Survival was 100% in the viremic patients and 97.4% in seroconverted patients at 1 year.

CONCLUSIONS

Heart transplantation from HCV viremic donors continues to increase but varies significantly across UNOS regions and individual centers. Short-term outcomes are comparable, but effects of seroconversion and long-term outcomes remain unclear.

Utilization of hepatitis C virus-infected organ donors in cardiothoracic transplantation: An ISHLT expert consensus statement

The advent of therapies for successful treatment of hepatitis C virus has allowed the heart and lung transplant community to re-explore the use of hepatitis C virus-positive donors for organ transplantation, with a benefit for many terminally ill patients. The consensus statements provided herein represent the current state of knowledge and expertise in this area, which we expect will continue to rapidly evolve over the next few years.

Sofosbuvir-based Interferon-Free Direct Acting Antiviral Regimens for Heart Transplant Recipients With Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

We assessed the effectiveness and safety of sofosbuvir (SOF) combined with ledipasvir (LDV) or daclatasvir (DCV) in 12 heart transplant recipients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). The sustained virologic response (SVR12) rate was 100% [95% confidence interval [CI]: 75.8%-100%]. All patients tolerated treatment well without interruption, death, or serious adverse events.

Opioid epidemic and liver disease

Opioid use in the United States and in many parts of the world has reached epidemic proportions. This has led to excess mortality as well as significant changes in the epidemiology of liver disease. Herein, we review the impact of the opioid epidemic on liver disease, focusing on the multifaceted impact this epidemic has had on liver disease and liver transplantation. In particular, the opioid crisis has led to a significant shift in incident hepatitis C virus infection to younger populations and to women, leading to changes in screening recommendations. Less well characterized are the potential direct and indirect hepatotoxic effects of opioids, as well as the changes in the incidence of hepatitis B virus infection and alcohol abuse that are likely rising in this population as well. Finally, the opioid epidemic has led to a significant rise in the proportion of organ donors who died due to overdose. These donors have led to an overall increase in donor numbers, but also to new considerations about the better use of donors with perceived or actual risk of disease transmission, especially hepatitis C. Clearly, additional efforts are needed to combat the opioid epidemic. Moreover, better understanding of the epidemiology and underlying pathophysiology will help to identify and treat liver disease in this high-risk population.

AISF position paper on HCV in immunocompromised patients

This report summarizes the clinical features and the indications for treating HCV infection in immunocompromised and transplanted patients in the Direct Acting Antiviral drugs era.

Effects of Hepatitis C Virus Antibody-Positivity on Cardiac Function and Long-Term Prognosis in Patients With Adult Congenital Heart Disease

It was reported that hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody-positivity adversely affects cardiac function. As the screening for HCV began in 1992, we hypothesized that HCV antibody-positive rate would be high in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) patients who underwent heart surgery before 1992 and adversely affected cardiac function and long-term prognosis. We retrospectively enrolled 243 ACHD patients (mean age 25.9 years) who underwent cardiac surgery before 1992 and visited our hospital from 1995 to 2015. We compared clinical characteristics including cardiac function and long-term prognosis between HCV antibody-positive (n = 48) and antibody-negative (n = 195) patients. The composite end point (CEP) included cardiac death, heart failure hospitalization, lethal ventricular arrhythmias, and cardiac reoperation. The prevalence of reduced systemic ventricular ejection fraction <50% was significantly higher in the HCV antibody-positive group compared with the HCV antibody-negative group (17 vs 5.4%, p = 0.014). During a mean follow-up period of 10.1 years (interquartile range 6 to 14 years), the CEP was noted in 51 patients. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed the HCV antibody-positive group had significantly poor event-free survival than the HCV antibody-negative group (log-rank, p = 0.002). In contrast, HCV ribonucleic acid-positivity was not a significant predictor of the CEP in the HCV antibody-positive group (log-rank, p = 0.442). Furthermore, the HCV antibody-positivity was significantly associated with the CEP in both univariable and multivariable Cox regression models (hazard ratio 2.37, 95% confident interval 1.32 to 4.15, p = 0.005 and 1.96, 1.06 to 3.63, p = 0.032, respectively). In conclusion, these results suggest that more attention should be paid to HCV antibody-positivity in the management of ACHD patients.

Successful heart-kidney transplantation from a Hepatitis C viremic donor to negative recipient: One year of follow-up

Every year the number of patients waiting for a heart transplant increases faster than the number of available donor organs. Some potential donor organs are from donors with active communicable diseases, including hepatitis C virus (HCV), potentially making donation prohibitive. The advent of direct-acting antiviral agents for HCV has drastically changed the treatment of HCV. Recently, these agents have been used to treat HCV in organ donor recipients who acquired the disease from the donor organ. We report a case of heart-kidney transplantation from an HCV viremic donor to HCV negative recipient with successful treatment and sustained virologic response.

Cardiovascular Involvement in Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infections - Insight from Novel Antiviral Therapies

Whereas statistical association of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with cardiomyopathy is long known, establishment of a causal relationship has not been achieved so far. Patients with advanced heart failure (HF) are mostly unable to tolerate interferon (IFN)-based treatment, resulting in limited experience regarding the possible pathogenic role of HCV in this patient group. HCV infection often triggers disease in a broad spectrum of extrahepatic organs, with innate immune and autoimmune pathogenic processes involved. The fact that worldwide more than 70 million patients are chronically infected with HCV illustrates the possible clinical impact arising if cardiomyopathies were induced or aggravated by HCV, resulting in progressive HF or severe arrhythmias. A novel path has been opened to finally resolve the long-standing question of cause-effect relationship between HCV infection and cardiac dysfunction, by the recent development of IFN-free, highly efficient, and well tolerable anti-HCV regimens. The new direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents are highly virus-specific and lack unspecific side-effects upon cardiac function which have always confounded the interpretation of IFN treatment data. The actual frequency of unexplained HF in chronic HCV infection will be determined from a planned large-scale study. Whereas such patients probably constitute a rather small fraction of all those harboring HCV, they have major clinical relevance. It is not yet known which fraction of these patients will significantly benefit from HCV eradication, but this issue will be addressed now in a prospective study.

Hepatitis C: Current Controversies and Future Potential in Solid Organ Transplantation

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To highlight the changing landscape of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the context of organ transplantation. This focuses on areas of controversy and future potential in the era of highly effective direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents.

RECENT FINDINGS

Since the advent of safe and highly effective DAA therapy, HCV infection is now curable in virtually all cases, including organ transplant recipients. Excellent drug tolerability and safety combined with high cure rates across all organ groups means that HCV is no longer a barrier to transplantation or its outcomes. Mounting data demonstrate the safety of using organs from HCV-infected donors with subsequent treatment of HCV in the recipient and a potential to expand the donor pool. Historical data demonstrating inferior survival in transplant recipients with HCV is of limited relevance in the DAA era. Virtually all transplant recipients with HCV infection can be cured, while early data also suggest excellent outcomes in recipients of organs from HCV viremic donors. The optimal timing of HCV therapy in relation to transplantation and the optimal use of organs from HCV viremic donors remain areas of controversy and ongoing research efforts.

The New Direct Antiviral Agents and Hepatitis C in Thoracic Transplantation: Impact on Donors and Recipients

Purpose of Review

The landscape of abdominal organ transplantation has been altered by the emergence of curative direct-acting antiviral agents for hepatitis C. Expansion of the thoracic donor pool to include the hearts and the lungs from hepatitis C-positive donors holds promise to increase available donor organs.

Recent Findings

Case reports have documented separate lung and heart transplant patients who acquired, and then were cured of, donor-derived hepatitis C using these newer, more effective therapies. Single sites and national consortia are underway to help make this approach part of the standard-of-care. Pangenotypic therapies may simplify the paradigm.

Summary

Organs from donors with active hepatitis C viremia are likely suitable for transplant as long as the organ is otherwise acceptable. Best-practices for “informed-risk” transplant include a team-based approach and a selection of the antiviral regimen based on insurer’s formulary, potential drug interactions, and genotype.

The rise of the opioid epidemic and hepatitis C-positive organs: A new era in liver transplantation

The use of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive organs in liver transplantation (LT) has increased in the era of direct-acting antiviral therapy. A rising demand for organs, the increased ability to effectively treat HCV infection in the transplant setting, and an unprecedented increase in HCV-positive donors have all contributed to this trend. A recent abrupt rise in opioid use in the United States has resulted in a surge of injection drug use, transmission of HCV, and opioid-related overdose deaths. Geographical areas most affected by the opioid epidemic have experienced a rapid increase in recovery and utilization of HCV-positive donor organs, in which the proportion of deceased donor LTs in the United States from donors who are HCV positive has increased nearly 2-fold within the last 3 years. The prospect of expanding the organ donor pool with HCV-positive donors and achieving acceptable posttransplant outcomes has generated much interest in the areas of liver, kidney, and thoracic transplantation, including the potential for transplanting organs from HCV positive donors into HCV-negative recipients. Developing strategies to ensure appropriate selection of potential recipients of HCV-positive organs, initiating timely antiviral therapy, and defining associated risks will be critical in achieving optimal posttransplant outcomes in this setting. (Hepatology 2018;67:1600-1608).

Direct antiviral treatment of chronic hepatitis C in heart transplant recipients

Direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) are a safe and effective treatment for chronic hepatitis C (CHC). This may be particularly valuable for patients with severe comorbidities or baseline conditions, including non-liver solid organ transplant. We report cases of two heart transplant recipients with CHC treated with DAAs (sofosbuvir and daclatasvir) achieving sustained virological response. Treatment was well tolerated and no relevant side effects were observed. The drug-drug interactions and graft function were carefully monitored.

Evaluation of a Heart Transplant Candidate

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Heart transplantation is the best option for irreversible and critically advanced heart failure. However, limited donor pool, the risk of rejection, infection, and right ventricular dysfunction in short-term post-transplant period, as well as, the development of coronary allograft vasculopathy and malignancy in the long-term post-transplant period limits the utility of heart transplantation for all comers with advanced heart failure. Therefore, selection of appropriate candidates is very important for the best short and long-term prognosis. In this article, we discuss the principles of selection of candidates and compare to the recently updated International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) listing criteria with the goal of updating current clinical practice.

RECENT FINDINGS

We found that while most of the recommendations in the new listing criteria are continuous with the previous criteria, updated recommendations are made on the risk stratification models in choosing transplantation candidates. Recommendation on hepatic dysfunction is not directly included in the updated ISHLT listing criteria; however, adoption of the Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score and modified MELD scores in the evaluation of risk are suggested in recent studies. In conclusion, evaluation of patient selection for heart transplantation should be comprehensive and individualized with respect to indications and the risk of comorbidities of candidates. With the advancement of mechanical circulatory support (MCS), the selection of heart transplantation candidate is continuously evolving and widened. MCS as bridge to candidacy should be considered when the candidate has potentially reversible risk factors for transplantation.

The American Society of Transplantation Consensus Conference on the Use of Hepatitis C Viremic Donors in Solid Organ Transplantation

The availability of direct-acting antiviral agents for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has resulted in a profound shift in the approach to the management of this infection. These changes have affected the practice of solid organ transplantation by altering the framework by which patients with end-stage organ disease are managed and receive organ transplants. The high level of safety and efficacy of these medications in patients with chronic HCV infection provides the opportunity to explore their use in the setting of transplanting organs from HCV-viremic patients into non-HCV-viremic recipients. Because these organs are frequently discarded and typically come from younger donors, this approach has the potential to save lives on the solid organ transplant waitlist. Therefore, an urgent need exists for prospective research protocols that study the risk versus benefit of using organs for hepatitis C-infected donors. In response to this rapidly changing practice and the need for scientific study and consensus, the American Society of Transplantation convened a meeting of experts to review current data and develop the framework for the study of using HCV viremic organs in solid organ transplantation.

High incidence of cardiac dysfunction and response to antiviral treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

AIMS

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been associated with cardiomyopathies. Former anti-HCV therapies employing interferon could have serious side effects in patients with advanced heart failure since interferon may adversely impact upon cardiac function. We, therefore, examined whether the novel, interferon-free and highly virus-selective anti-HCV combination therapy might be applicable even in advanced or end-stage heart failure.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In a retrospective series of HCV-positive patients admitted to our institution with suspected cardiac disease, coronary, valvular or hypertensive heart disease was diagnosed in 70/146 (47.9%). Among the others, 36/76 (47.4%) had myocardial disease: LV (32.9%)/RV (13.2%) hypertrophy, RV dysfunction (13.2%)/dilation (6.6%), severe diastolic dysfunction (7.9%), pulmonary hypertension (22.4%). One critically ill patient listed for heart transplantation (HTX) had previously not tolerated an interferon-based protocol. To still improve her chance of enduring transplant survival, we attempted an interferon-free virus-selective antiviral combination drug protocol under careful monitoring of possible side effects. Regarding clinical status she tolerated this treatment well, with the exception of transient severe hyponatremia requiring substitution. Her NYHA functional class improved from II-IV before to class II immediately after successful complete HCV elimination.

CONCLUSIONS

Whereas prevalence of cardiac dysfunction and potential benefit from antiviral treatment was reported previously, there is lack of data regarding the response of patients with advanced heart failure. Since the highly HCV-selective drugs used above do not eliminate other cardiotropic viruses and have no direct effect on inflammation, massive improvement in such critically ill patients indicates a causal role of HCV in their cardiac failure, and of HCV elimination in their functional recovery.