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Pancreas transplantation from hepatitis C viremic donors to uninfected recipients
Author(s) -
Lonze Bonnie E.,
Baptiste Gillian,
Ali Nicole M.,
Dagher Nabil N.,
Gelb Bruce E.,
Mattoo Aprajita,
Soomro Irfana,
Tatapudi Vashista S.,
Montgomery Robert A.,
Stewart Zoe A.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
american journal of transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.89
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1600-6143
pISSN - 1600-6135
DOI - 10.1111/ajt.16465
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatitis c , pancreas , pancreas transplantation , transplantation , hepatitis c virus , gastroenterology , hepatitis , immunology , kidney transplantation , virus
Despite utilization of hepatitis C viremic organs for hepatitis C naïve recipients (HCV D+/R‐) in other solid organ transplants, HCV viremic pancreata remain an unexplored source of donor organs. This study reports the first series of HCV D+/R‐ pancreas transplants. HCV D+/R‐ had shorter waitlist times compared to HCV D‐/R‐, waiting a mean of 16 days from listing for HCV‐positive organs. HCV D+/R‐ had a lower match allocation sequence than HCV D‐/R‐, and this correlated with receipt of organs with a lower Pancreas Donor Risk Index (PDRI) score. All HCV D+/R‐ had excellent graft function with a mean follow‐up of 438 days and had undetectable HCV RNA levels by a mean of 23 days after initiation of HCV‐directed therapy. The rates of infectious complications, reoperation, readmission, rejection, and length of stay were not impacted by donor HCV status. A national review of potential ideal pancreas donors found that 37% of ideal HCV‐negative pancreas allografts were transplanted, compared to only 5% of ideal HCV‐positive pancreas allografts. The results of the current study demonstrate the safety of accepting HCV‐positive pancreata for HCV‐naïve recipients and advocates for increased utilization of ideal HCV‐positive pancreas allografts.