Organs from deceased donors with false-positive HIV screening tests: An unexpected benefit of the HOPE act

Wait Time Advantage for Transplant Candidates With HIV Who Accept Kidneys From Donors With HIV Under the HOPE Act

BACKGROUND

Kidney transplant (KT) candidates with HIV face higher mortality on the waitlist compared with candidates without HIV. Because the HIV Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act has expanded the donor pool to allow donors with HIV (D + ), it is crucial to understand whether this has impacted transplant rates for this population.

METHODS

Using a linkage between the HOPE in Action trial (NCT03500315) and Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, we identified 324 candidates listed for D + kidneys (HOPE) compared with 46 025 candidates not listed for D + kidneys (non-HOPE) at the same centers between April 26, 2018, and May 24, 2022. We characterized KT rate, KT type (D + , false-positive [FP; donor with false-positive HIV testing], D - [donor without HIV], living donor [LD]) and quantified the association between HOPE enrollment and KT rate using multivariable Cox regression with center-level clustering; HOPE was a time-varying exposure.

RESULTS

HOPE candidates were more likely male individuals (79% versus 62%), Black (73% versus 35%), and publicly insured (71% versus 52%; P  < 0.001). Within 4.5 y, 70% of HOPE candidates received a KT (41% D + , 34% D - , 20% FP, 4% LD) versus 43% of non-HOPE candidates (74% D - , 26% LD). Conversely, 22% of HOPE candidates versus 39% of non-HOPE candidates died or were removed from the waitlist. Median KT wait time was 10.3 mo for HOPE versus 60.8 mo for non-HOPE candidates ( P  < 0.001). After adjustment, HOPE candidates had a 3.30-fold higher KT rate (adjusted hazard ratio = 3.30, 95% confidence interval, 2.14-5.10; P  < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Listing for D + kidneys within HOPE trials was associated with a higher KT rate and shorter wait time, supporting the expansion of this practice for candidates with HIV.

Liver Transplantation in People Living with HIV: Still an Experimental Procedure or Standard of Care?

Liver transplantation (LT) is the only curative treatment for various liver diseases, including acute liver failure, end-stage liver disease, and selected unresectable liver malignancies. Combination antiretroviral therapy has improved outcomes for people living with HIV (PLWH), transforming the status of acquired immune deficiency syndrome from a fatal disease to a chronic and manageable condition. These powerful antiviral therapies have not only increased the number of HIV+ enlisted patients by improving their survival but also made the use of HIV+ organs a viable option. In this review, we summarise current knowledge on the peculiarities of liver transplantation in PLWH. In particular, we focus on the indications, contraindications, specific considerations for treatment, and outcomes of LT in PLWH. Finally, we present available preliminary data on the use of HIV+ liver allografts.

Recipient and kidney graft outcomes of deceased donors with human immunodeficiency virus in the United States

BACKGROUND

The HIV Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) act afforded transplantation of organs from donors who have HIV. Herein we compared the long-term outcomes of recipients with HIV by donor HIV testing status.

METHODS

Using the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, we identified all primary adult kidney transplant recipients who were HIV-positive between 1/1/16-12/31/21. Recipients were grouped into three cohorts according to the donor HIV status based on antibody (Ab) and nucleic acid testing (NAT): Donor Ab-/NAT- (n = 810), Donor Ab+ /NAT- (n = 98), and Donor Ab+/NAT+ (n = 90). We compared recipient and death-censored graft survival (DCGS) by donor HIV testing status using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards regression, censored at 3 years posttransplant. Secondary outcomes were delayed graft function (DGF) and the following 1-year outcomes: acute rejection, re-hospitalization, and serum creatinine.

RESULTS

In Kaplan-Meier analyses, patient survival and DCGS were similar by donor HIV status (log rank p = .667; log rank p = .388). DGF occurred more frequently in donors with HIV Ab-/NAT- testing compared with Ab+/NAT- or Ab+/NAT+ testing (38.0% vs. 28.6% vs. 26.7%, p = .028). Average dialysis time before transplant was twice as long for recipients who received organs from donors with Ab-/NAT- testing (p < .001). Acute rejection, re-hospitalization and serum creatinine at 12 months did not differ between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient and allograft survival for recipients living with HIV remains comparable irrespective of donor HIV testing status. Utilizing kidneys from deceased donors with HIV Ab+/NAT- or Ab+/NAT+ testing shortens dialysis time prior to transplant.

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

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.

Efficacy of hope: Analysis of organ quality and availability among deceased HIV-positive donors

BACKGROUND

Improved survival among people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PWH) has led to increased organ failure, necessitating transplantation. In 2013, the HIV Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act was passed, allowing PWH to donate organs to other PWH. No study has assessed organ quality and quantity among a national pool of PWH.

METHODS

CFAR Network of Integrated Clinical Systems (CNICS), a multicenter study capturing data on PWH, was used to identify 6504 deaths from 1999 to 2018. Exclusions included cause of death, chronic kidney disease, fibrosis-4 score ≥ 3.25, and opportunistic infection at the time of death. Donor quality was defined by HIV viremia and the kidney donor profile index (KDPI). The CDC Wonder database, which contains national death data, permitted the estimation of deaths among PWH nationally from 1999 to 2018. Assuming CNICS was representative of PWH nationally, percentages of potential donors were applied to the CDC Wonder cohort.

RESULTS

Within CNICS, there were 3241 (65.9%) potential kidney donors and 3536 (71.9%) potential liver donors from 1999 to 2018. Based on viremia and KDPI, 821 were lower-risk kidney donors (16.7%) and 1206 (24.5%) were lower-risk liver donors. Within CDC Wonder, we identified 12 048 potential donors from 1999 to 2018. Extrapolating from CNICS to the national cohort suggested 396 kidney donors (792 kidneys) and 433 liver donors annually, with 100 kidney donors (200 kidneys) and 147 livers being lower-risk.

CONCLUSION

A substantial number of PWH meet donation criteria, a valuable source of organs for PWH in need of transplants. Our estimates suggest there may be more available organs from PWH than current transplant numbers indicate.

HIV at 40: kidney disease in HIV treatment, prevention, and cure

Four decades after the first cases of HIV were reported, kidney disease remains an important comorbidity in people with HIV (PWH). Both HIV-associated nephropathy and immune complex kidney disease were recognized as complications of HIV infection in the early years before treatment was available. Although the introduction of effective antiretroviral therapy in the late 1990s resulted in dramatic improvements in survival and health in PWH, several commonly used antiretroviral agents have been associated with kidney injury. HIV infection and treatment may also promote the progression of comorbid chronic kidney disease due to traditional risk factors such as diabetes, and HIV is one of the strongest "second hits" for the high-risk APOL1 genotype. Unique considerations in the management of chronic kidney disease in PWH are largely related to the need for lifelong antiretroviral therapy, with potential for toxicity, drug-drug interactions, and polypharmacy. PWH who develop progressive chronic kidney disease are candidates for all modalities of kidney replacement therapy, including kidney transplantation, and at some centers, PWH may be candidates to serve as donors for recipients with HIV. Transplantation of kidney allografts from donors with HIV also offers a unique opportunity to study viral dynamics in the kidney, with implications for kidney health and for research toward HIV cure. In addition, HIV-transgenic animal models have provided important insights into kidney disease pathogenesis beyond HIV, and experience with HIV and HIV-related kidney disease has provided important lessons for future pandemics.

Donors with human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus for solid organ transplantation: what's new

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW

Passage of the HOPE Act and the advent of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies have allowed for expansion of the donor organ pool to include donors with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), thus providing new opportunities for waitlist candidates. This article provides updates on recent studies in solid organ transplantation (SOT) utilizing donors with HIV and HCV.

RECENT FINDINGS

The first pilot studies of kidney and liver transplantation from donors-with-HIV to recipients-with-HIV (HIV D+/R+) show robust patient survival, comparable graft survival to transplantation from donors without HIV (HIV D-/R+) and no increased rates of HIV breakthrough. The number of HIV D+ organs utilized has been lower than initial estimates due to several potential factors. With high numbers of overdose deaths from the opioid epidemic, there have been more HCV D+ organs available, leading to transplantation in recipients without HCV (HCV D+/R-) in combination with DAAs. Outcomes in both abdominal and thoracic HCV D+/R transplantation are excellent.

SUMMARY

With recent findings of good outcomes in both HIV D+/R+ and HCV D+/R- SOT, we feel the evidence supports both practices as standard clinical care options to mitigate organ shortage and reduce waitlist mortality.

National Landscape of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive Deceased Organ Donors in the United States

BACKGROUND

Organ transplantation from donors with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to recipients with HIV (HIV D+/R+) presents risks of donor-derived infections. Understanding clinical, immunologic, and virologic characteristics of HIV-positive donors is critical for safety.

METHODS

We performed a prospective study of donors with HIV-positive and HIV false-positive (FP) test results within the HIV Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act in Action studies of HIV D+/R+ transplantation (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02602262, NCT03500315, and NCT03734393). We compared clinical characteristics in HIV-positive versus FP donors. We measured CD4 T cells, HIV viral load (VL), drug resistance mutations (DRMs), coreceptor tropism, and serum antiretroviral therapy (ART) detection, using mass spectrometry in HIV-positive donors.

RESULTS

Between March 2016 and March 2020, 92 donors (58 HIV positive, 34 FP), representing 98.9% of all US HOPE donors during this period, donated 177 organs (131 kidneys and 46 livers). Each year the number of donors increased. The prevalence of hepatitis B (16% vs 0%), syphilis (16% vs 0%), and cytomegalovirus (CMV; 91% vs 58%) was higher in HIV-positive versus FP donors; the prevalences of hepatitis C viremia were similar (2% vs 6%). Most HIV-positive donors (71%) had a known HIV diagnosis, of whom 90% were prescribed ART and 68% had a VL <400 copies/mL. The median CD4 T-cell count (interquartile range) was 194/µL (77-331/µL), and the median CD4 T-cell percentage was 27.0% (16.8%-36.1%). Major HIV DRMs were detected in 42%, including nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (33%), integrase strand transfer inhibitors (4%), and multiclass (13%). Serum ART was detected in 46% and matched ART by history.

CONCLUSION

The use of HIV-positive donor organs is increasing. HIV DRMs are common, yet resistance that would compromise integrase strand transfer inhibitor-based regimens is rare, which is reassuring regarding safety.

HOPE in action: A prospective multicenter pilot study of liver transplantation from donors with HIV to recipients with HIV

Liver transplantation (LT) from donors-with-HIV to recipients-with-HIV (HIV D+/R+) is permitted under the HOPE Act. There are only three international single-case reports of HIV D+/R+ LT, each with limited follow-up. We performed a prospective multicenter pilot study comparing HIV D+/R+ to donors-without-HIV to recipients-with-HIV (HIV D-/R+) LT. We quantified patient survival, graft survival, rejection, serious adverse events (SAEs), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) breakthrough, infections, and malignancies, using Cox and negative binomial regression with inverse probability of treatment weighting. Between March 2016-July 2019, there were 45 LTs (8 simultaneous liver-kidney) at 9 centers: 24 HIV D+/R+, 21 HIV D-/R+ (10 D- were false-positive). The median follow-up time was 23 months. Median recipient CD4 was 287 cells/µL with 100% on antiretroviral therapy; 56% were hepatitis C virus (HCV)-seropositive, 13% HCV-viremic. Weighted 1-year survival was 83.3% versus 100.0% in D+ versus D- groups (p = .04). There were no differences in one-year graft survival (96.0% vs. 100.0%), rejection (10.8% vs. 18.2%), HIV breakthrough (8% vs. 10%), or SAEs (all p > .05). HIV D+/R+ had more opportunistic infections, infectious hospitalizations, and cancer. In this multicenter pilot study of HIV D+/R+ LT, patient and graft survival were better than historical cohorts, however, a potential increase in infections and cancer merits further investigation.

An Update on Usage of High-Risk Donors in Liver Transplantation

The ideal management for end stage liver disease, acute liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), within specific criteria, is liver transplantation (LT). Over the years, there has been a steady increase in the candidates listed for LT, without a corresponding increase in the donor pool. Therefore, due to organ shortage, it has been substantially difficult to reduce waitlist mortality among patients awaiting LT. Thus, marginal donors such as elderly donors, steatotic donors, split liver, and donors after cardiac death (DCD), which were once not commonly used, are now considered. Furthermore, it is encouraging to see the passing of Acts, such as the HIV Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act, enabling further research and development in utilizing HIV grafts. Subsequently, the newer antivirals have aided in successful post-transplant period, especially for hepatitis C positive grafts. However, currently, there is no standardization, and protocols are center specific in the usage of marginal donors. Therefore, studies with longer follow ups are required to standardize its use.

Advancing organ transplantation through HIV-to-HIV transplantation

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Persons living with HIV (PLWH) have a life expectancy that is nearly equivalent to the general population, and thus are facing health conditions associated with normal aging as well as long-term HIV infection. End-organ disease is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and solid organ transplantation (SOT) may be a viable option for many PLWH. We review the history and recent updates in SOT in PLWH, specifically focusing on HIV-to-HIV transplantation.

RECENT FINDINGS

Following promising data out of South Africa and to expand the donor pool, the United States passed the HIV Organ Procurement Equity (HOPE) Act, allowing for HIV-to-HIV SOT. Preliminary data to date, especially in HIV-to-HIV kidney transplantation, suggest overall excellent patient and graft survival outcomes with no HIV breakthrough infection.

SUMMARY

Preliminary HIV D+R+ SOT data to date suggest promising patient outcomes and no significant adverse events to recipients or living donors. This is an important step in expanding the donor pool and increasing opportunity for SOT in PLWH.

"Raising HOPE": Improved Outcomes for HIV/HCV-coinfected Liver Transplant Recipients in the Direct-acting Antiviral Era

The 2013 HIV Organ Policy Equity Act has increased liver transplantation (LT) in HIV⁺ patients; however, transplant centers may remain reluctant to perform LT in HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV)-coinfected patients due to inferior outcomes. We aimed to assess how direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have impacted HIV⁺/HCV⁺-coinfected LT recipient outcomes.

A prospective multicenter pilot study of HIV-positive deceased donor to HIV-positive recipient kidney transplantation: HOPE in action

HIV-positive donor to HIV-positive recipient (HIV D+/R+) transplantation is permitted in the United States under the HIV Organ Policy Equity Act. To explore safety and the risk attributable to an HIV+ donor, we performed a prospective multicenter pilot study comparing HIV D+/R+ vs HIV-negative donor to HIV+ recipient (HIV D-/R+) kidney transplantation (KT). From 3/2016 to 7/2019 at 14 centers, there were 75 HIV+ KTs: 25 D+ and 50 D- (22 recipients from D- with false positive HIV tests). Median follow-up was 1.7 years. There were no deaths nor differences in 1-year graft survival (91% D+ vs 92% D-, P = .9), 1-year mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (63 mL/min D+ vs 57 mL/min D-, P = .31), HIV breakthrough (4% D+ vs 6% D-, P > .99), infectious hospitalizations (28% vs 26%, P = .85), or opportunistic infections (16% vs 12%, P = .72). One-year rejection was higher for D+ recipients (50% vs 29%, HR: 1.83, 95% CI 0.84-3.95, P = .13) but did not reach statistical significance; rejection was lower with lymphocyte-depleting induction (21% vs 44%, HR: 0.33, 95% CI 0.21-0.87, P = .03). In this multicenter pilot study directly comparing HIV D+/R+ with HIV D-/R+ KT, overall transplant and HIV outcomes were excellent; a trend toward higher rejection with D+ raises concerns that merit further investigation.

HIV and organ transplantation

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review summarizes the advances that have occurred over the past 2 years in organ transplantation in the setting of HIV.

RECENT FINDINGS

Although HIV+ organ transplantation is both safe and effective, recent studies show that HIV+ patients continue to experience barriers to transplantation. In the United States, the HOPE Act is not only expected to increase the donor pool for HIV+ transplant candidates, but to also allow for the use of donors with false-positive HIV+ tests, which had previously been banned under the US National Organ Transplant Act. More effective HCV treatment, increased experience with heart and lung transplantation and the potential for increased organ availability with the inclusion of HIV+ organ donors have provided for significant advances in the care of these patients.

SUMMARY

There continues to be progress in the field of organ transplantation in persons living with HIV. Future efforts should continue aiming to limit barriers to transplantation and improving the understanding of immunologic derangements seen in transplant recipients with HIV infection.

Increasing the Donor Pool: Organ Transplantation from Donors with HIV to Recipients with HIV

Implementation of the HIV Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act marks a new era in transplantation, allowing organ transplantation from HIV+ donors to HIV+ recipients (HIV D+/R+ transplantation). In this review, we discuss major milestones in HIV and transplantation which paved the way for this landmark policy change, including excellent outcomes in HIV D-/R+ recipient transplantation and success in the South African experience of HIV D+/R+ deceased donor kidney transplantation. Under the HOPE Act, from March 2016 to December 2018, there were 56 deceased donors, and 102 organs were transplanted (71 kidneys and 31 livers). In 2019, the first HIV D+/R+ living donor kidney transplants occurred. Reaching the full estimated potential of HIV+ donors will require overcoming challenges at the community, organ procurement organization, and transplant center levels. Multiple clinical trials are ongoing, which will provide clinical and scientific data to further extend the frontiers of knowledge in this field.

Update on liver transplantation-newer aspects

Liver transplantation (LT) remains the only therapeutic option offering gold standard treatment for end-stage liver disease (ESLD) and acute liver failure (ALF), as well as for certain early-stage liver tumors. Currently, the greatest challenge facing LT is the simple fact that there are not enough adequate livers for all the potential patients that could benefit from LT. Despite efforts to expand the donor pool to include living and deceased donors, organ shortage is still a major problem in many countries. To solve this problem, the use of marginal liver grafts has become an inevitable choice. Although the definition of marginal grafts or criteria for expanded donor selection has not been clarified yet, they are usually defined as grafts that may potentially cause primary nonfunction, impaired function, or late loss of function. These include steatotic livers, older donors, donors with positive viral serology, split livers, and donation after cardiac death (DCD). Therefore, to get the best outcome from these liver grafts, donor-recipient selection should be vigilant. Alcohol- related liver disease (ALD) is one of the most common indications for LT in Europe and North America. Traditionally, LT for alcoholic liver disease was kept limited for patients who have achieved 6 months of abstinence, in part due to social and ethical concerns regarding the use of a limited resource. However, the majority of patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis who fail medical therapy will not live long enough to meet this requirement. Besides, the initial results of early liver transplantation (ELT) without waiting for 6 months of abstinence period are satisfactory in severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH). It will be important to take care of these patients from a newer perspective.

Current state of kidney transplantation in patients with HIV, hepatitis C, and hepatitis B infection

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C (HCV), and hepatitis B (HBV) are common chronic viral infections in the end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patient population that were once considered relative contraindications to kidney transplantation. In this review, we will summarize the current state of kidney transplantation in patients with HIV, HCV, and HBV, which is rapidly evolving. HIV+ patients enjoy excellent outcomes in the modern transplant era and may have new transplant opportunities with the use of HIV+ donors. Direct-acting antivirals for HCV have substantially changed the landscape of care for patients with HCV infection. HBV+ patients now have excellent patient and allograft survival with HBV therapy. Currently, kidney transplantation is a safe and appropriate treatment for the majority of ESKD patients with HIV, HCV, and HBV.

Organ transplantation in persons with HIV

: With current antiretroviral therapy, the lifespan of newly diagnosed persons with HIV (PWH) approaches that of uninfected persons. However, metabolic abnormalities related to both the disease and the virus itself, along with comorbidities of aging, have resulted in end-organ disease and organ failure as a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Solid organ transplantation is a life-saving therapy for PWH who have organ failure, and the approval of the HIV Organ Policy Equity Act has opened and expanded opportunities for PWH to donate and receive organs. The current environment of organ transplantation for PWH will be reviewed and future directions of research and treatment will be discussed.

The future of HIV Organ Policy Equity Act is now: the state of HIV+ to HIV+ kidney transplantation in the United States

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

We report the current state of HIV+ to HIV+ kidney transplantation in the United States and remaining challenges in implementing this practice nationally.

RECENT FINDINGS

The HIV Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act, which was the first step in unlocking the potential of HIV+ organ donors, mandates clinical research on HIV+ to HIV+ transplantation. As of March 2019, there have been 57 HOPE donors, including both true and false positive HOPE donors resulting in more than 120 transplants.

SUMMARY

The HOPE Act, signed in 2013, reversed the federal ban on the transplantation of organs from HIV+ donors into HIV+ recipients. Ongoing national studies are exploring the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of both kidney and liver transplantation in this population. If successfully and fully implemented, HIV+ to HIV+ transplantation could attenuate the organ shortage for everyone waiting, resulting in a far-reaching public health impact.

Screening of donors and recipients for infections prior to solid organ transplantation

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review is a brief overview of current guidelines on screening donors and candidates for bacterial, fungal, parasitic and viral infections prior to solid organ transplantation. The pretransplant period is an important time to evaluate infection exposure risk based on social history as well as to offer vaccinations.

RECENT FINDINGS

One of the major changes in the past few years has been increased utilization of increased Public Health Service risk, HIV positive, and hepatitis C-positive donors. There has also been increased attention to donor and recipient risks for geographically associated infections, such as endemic fungal infections and flaviviruses.

SUMMARY

Screening for donors and candidates prior to organ transplantation can identify and address infection risks. Diagnosing infections in a timely manner can help guide treatment and additional testing. Use of necessary prophylactic treatment in organ recipients can prevent reactivation of latent infections and improve posttransplant outcomes.

Expanding the donor pool: Hepatitis C, hepatitis B and human immunodeficiency virus-positive donors in liver transplantation

Liver transplantation (LT) remains the best option for patients with end-stage liver disease but the demand for organs from deceased donors continues to outweigh the available supply. The advent of highly effective anti-viral treatments has reduced the number of patients undergoing LT for hepatitis C (HCV) and hepatitis B (HBV) related liver disease and yet the number of patients waiting for LT continues to increase, driven by an increase in the patients listed with a diagnosis of cirrhosis due to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and alcohol-related liver disease. In addition, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, which was previously a contra-indication for LT, is no longer a fatal disease due to the effectiveness of HIV therapy and patients with HIV and liver disease are now developing indications for LT. The rising demand for LT is projected to increase further in the future, thus driving the need to investigate potential means of expanding the pool of potential donors. One mechanism for doing so is utilizing organs from donors that previously would have been discarded or used only in exceptional circumstances such as HCV-positive, HBV-positive, and HIV-positive donors. The advent of highly effective anti-viral therapy has meant that these organs can now be used with excellent outcomes in HCV, HBV or HIV infected recipients and in some cases uninfected recipients.

National landscape of HIV+ to HIV+ kidney and liver transplantation in the United States

The HIV Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act, enacted on November 21, 2013, enables research on the transplantation of organs from donors infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (HIV+) into HIV+ individuals who, prior to transplantation, are infected with HIV. In 2015, the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network revised organ allocation policies on November 21, and on November 23, the Secretary of Health and Human Services published research criteria and revised the Final Rule accordingly. The HOPE Act appears to be underutilized to date. As of December 31, 2018, there were 56 donors recovered (50 donors transplanted) resulting in 102 organs transplanted (31 liver, 71 kidney). As of December 31, 2018, 212 registrations were indicated on the waiting list as willing to accept an HIV+ kidney or liver, most of which were waiting in active status. Due to the limited number of transplants performed to date, definitive safety conclusions cannot be reached at this time, though current data suggest that 1-year patient and graft survival does not deviate in a major way from that observed in HIV+ recipients of non-HIV+ organs or non-HIV+ recipients. As safety data are reviewed and disseminated, it is anticipated that HOPE participation will increase should safety signals remain low.

Solid Organ Transplantation in HIV-Infected Recipients: History, Progress, and Frontiers

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

End-stage organ disease prevalence is increasing among HIV-infected (HIV+) individuals. Trial and registry data confirm that solid organ transplantation (SOT) is efficacious in this population. Optimizing access to transplant and decreasing complications represent active frontiers.

RECENT FINDINGS

HIV+ recipients historically experienced 2-4-fold higher rejection. Integrase strand transferase inhibitors (INSTIs) minimize drug interactions and may reduce rejection along with lymphodepleting induction immunosuppression. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection has been associated with inferior outcomes, yet direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) may mitigate this. Experience in South Africa and the US HIV Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act support HIV+ donor to HIV+ recipient (HIV D+/R+) transplantation. SOT is the optimal treatment for end-stage organ disease in HIV+ individuals. Recent advances include use of INSTIs and DAAs in transplant recipients; however, strategies to improve access to transplant are needed. HIV D+/R+ transplantation is under investigation and may improve access and provide insights for HIV cure and pathogenesis research.

Solid organ transplantation in the HIV-infected patient: Guidelines from the American Society of Transplantation Infectious Diseases Community of Practice

These updated guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Community of Practice of the American Society of Transplantation review the management of transplantation in HIV-infected individuals. Transplantation has become the standard of care for patients with HIV and end-stage kidney or liver disease. Although less data exist for thoracic organ and pancreas transplantation, it is likely that transplantation is also safe and effective for these recipients as well. Despite what is typically a transient decline in CD4⁺ T lymphocytes, HIV remains well controlled and infection risks are similar to those of HIV-uninfected transplant recipients. The availability of effective directly active antivirals for the treatment of Hepatitis C is likely to improve outcomes in HIV and HCV co-infected individuals, a population previously noted to have decreased survival. Drug interactions remain an important consideration, and integrase inhibitor-based regimens are preferred due to the absence of interactions with calcineurin and mTOR inhibitors. Additionally, despite the use of more potent immunosuppression, rejection rates exceed those found in HIV-uninfected recipients. Ongoing research evaluating HIV-positive organ donors may provide support for utilizing these donors for HIV-positive patients in need of transplantation.

Donor-derived infections: Guidelines from the American Society of Transplantation Infectious Diseases Community of Practice

These updated guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Community of Practice of the American Society of Transplantation will review the current state of the art of donor-derived infections. Specifically, the guideline will summarize standardized definitions and approaches to defining imputability, updated data on the epidemiology of donor-derived infections, and approaches to risk mitigation against transmission of infections. This update will additionally provide guidance on the use of HIV+ donors in HIV+ recipients, the use of HCV-viremic donors in non-viremic recipients, donors with endemic infections, and donors with bacteremia, meningitis, and encephalitis. Lastly, the guidance will summarize an approach to recipients with a suspected donor-derived infection.