Optimizing Utilization of Kidneys from Hepatitis C-Positive Kidney Donors

Utilization of hepatitis C virus-positive donors in kidney transplantation

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Direct-acting antivirals (DAA) have transformed kidney transplantation by increasing the donor pool from hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected donors and allowing HCV nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT) donor-positive/recipient-negative (D+/R-) transplantation over the last 7 years. Willingness to accept kidneys from HCV-infected donors and timing/duration of DAA therapy have been evolving.

RECENT FINDINGS

By 2021, most of the HCV NAT+ kidneys (92.6%) were transplanted to HCV-naive recipients. Despite the availability of effective DAA therapy, the discard rate of HCV NAT kidneys has been stagnant around 25%. The proportion of wait-listed patients willing to accept a deceased donor kidney from HCV Ab+ and HCV NAT+ donors increased 20-fold between 2015 and 2022. Wait-listed time to receive HCV NAT+ kidneys has been rising and most of the kidneys are transplanted to HCV-naive recipients. The proportion of deceased donor kidney transplants performed in recipients with HCV seropositivity decreased from 5.1 to 2.8% during the same period. Relatively short courses of DAA therapy (7-8 days) appear to be effective to decrease HCV transmission (<5%) and achieve sustained virological response at 12 weeks if administered prior to revascularization.

SUMMARY

Further studies are needed to evaluate long-term outcomes of HCV NAT D+/R- transplantation and the best course of DAA treatment.

CMV specific T cell immune response in hepatitis C negative kidney transplant recipients receiving transplant from hepatitis C viremic donors and hepatitis C aviremic donors

Kidney transplants (KT) from hepatitis C (HCV) viremic donors to HCV negative recipients has shown promising renal outcomes, however, high incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) viremia were reported. We performed a prospective cohort study of 52 HCV negative KT recipients from Methodist University Hospital including 41 receiving transplants from HCV aviremic donors and 11 from HCV viremic donors. CMV specific CD4+ and CD8 + T cell immunity was measured by intracellular flow cytometry assay. Primary outcome was the development of positive CMV specific CD4+ and CD8 + T cell immune response in the entire cohort and each subgroup. The association between donor HCV status and CMV specific CD4+ and CD8 + T cell immune response was analyzed by Cox proportional hazard models. Mean recipient age was 48 ± 13 years, with 73% male and 82% African American. Positive CMV specific CD4+ and CD8 + T cell immune response was found in 53% and 47% of the cohort at 1 month, 65% and 70% at 2 months, 80% and 75% at 4 months, 89% and 87% at 6 months, and 94% and 94% at 9 months post-transplant, respectively. There was no significant difference in the incidence of positive CMV specific T cell immune response between recipients of transplants from HCV aviremic donors compared to HCV viremic donors in unadjusted (for CD8+: HR = 1.169, 95%CI: 0.521-2.623; for CD4+: HR = 1.208, 95%CI: 0.543-2.689) and adjusted (for CD8+: HR = 1.072, 95%CI: 0.458-2.507; for CD4+: HR = 1.210, 95%CI: 0.526-2.784) Cox regression analyses. HCV viremia in donors was not associated with impaired development of CMV specific T cell immunity in this cohort.

Liver Outcome in Renal Transplant Recipients Who Acquired Hepatitis C Infection From an Infected Graft: Study Based on Liver Biopsy Findings

Long-term liver outcome in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-negative kidney recipients who acquired HCV infection from viremic donors is of intense interest in the transplant community. We evaluated the incidence of fibrosis in liver biopsy specimens of recipients who were transplanted with HCV-infected grafts.

A review of kidney transplantation from HCV-viremic donors into HCV-negative recipients

The safety and efficacy of direct-acting antiviral therapies have allowed the transplantation of organs from hepatitis C virus (HCV)-viremic donors into uninfected recipients. This novel strategy contrasts with the previous standard-of-care practice of limiting the transplantation of HCV infected-donor organs to HCV-infected recipients, or all too often, discarding viable organs. In this review, we summarize the published literature about the safety and feasibility of transplanting organs from HCV-viremic donors, the challenges that hinder wider adoption of this strategy, and future research needs.