Abstract
The demand for organs in the USA exceeds supply resulting in high mortality for patients awaiting transplantation. To increase the pool of available organs, the transplant community is investigating the safety and utility of organs previously considered high risk. Guidelines currently advocate for the use of hepatitis C antibody, nucleic acid testing (NAT)-negative organs in hepatitis C–positive recipients. However, data is limited regarding outcomes of using such grafts in hepatitis C–negative recipients. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on utilizing hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive NAT-negative livers and to determine if utilizing direct-acting antivirals lowers the risk of HCV transmission regardless of the recipient’s HCV status. The current literature demonstrates that the overall risk of transmission of HCV with the use of these organs in HCV-negative recipients is low and that risk is increased with high-risk donors that died from IVDA overdose. Direct-acting antivirals are highly effective in treating HCV and lowering the risk of transmission. Therefore, we should reconsider utilizing these organs in HCV-positive recipients.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
