Successful Lung Transplantation From Hepatitis C Positive Donor to Seronegative Recipient

Khan B¹, Singer LG¹, Lilly LB2, Chaparro C¹, Martinu T¹, Juvet S¹, Pipkin M¹, Waddell TK¹, Keshavjee S¹, Humar A², Cypel M¹.  (Toronto)

Am J Transplant. 2017 Apr;17(4):1129-1131. doi: 10.1111/ajt.14137. Epub 2017 Jan 16.

Lung transplantation using RNA+ hepatitis C (HCV+) donors to seronegative recipients is not currently performed due to the very high risk of transmission. Previous reports have shown poor survival when this practice was applied. The emergence of new direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAA) suggests a high chance of sustained virologic response in immunocompetent patients. We report here successful transplantation of lungs from HCV+ donor to HCV- recipient. The recipient was an HCV- patient with chronic lung allograft dysfunction. Viral transmission occurred early posttransplant but excellent clinical outcomes were observed including elimination of HCV after 12 weeks of treatment using DAAs.

© 2016 The Amer.Soc Transplantation and the Amer Soc Transplant Surgeons.      KEYWORDS:   clinical research/practice; complication: infectious; donors and donation: donor-derived infections; donors and donation: extended criteria; infectious disease; lung disease; lung transplantation/pulmonology; organ procurement and allocation; translational research/science
PMID: 27873483. DOI: 10.1111/ajt.14137