Current State of Use of Hepatitis C Viremic Donor Organs in Negative Recipients in the United States: A National Survey
K. Ryland1, K. Hattori2, J. Steinbrink3, N. Theodoropoulos4, M. Ison5
1Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 2Duke university hospital, Durham, NC, 3Duke University, Durham, NC, 4University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 5Northwestern University Comprehensive Transplant Center, Chicago, IL
Meeting: 2022 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: 553
Keywords: Heart/lung transplantation, Hepatitis C, Infection, Kidney/liver transplantation
Topic: Clinical Science » Infection Disease » 27 - Non-Organ Specific: Viral Hepatitis
Session Information
Session Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm
Presentation Time: 5:30pm-5:40pm
Location: Hynes Room 312
*Purpose: Since the advent of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy, use of hepatitis C (HCV) viremic donor organs in HCV negative recipients has become more common. This study aims to capture current practices across the United States.
*Methods: A 40-question survey regarding HCV practices was developed using Qualtrics survey platform (IRB #21-005157). This survey was posted online to members of multiple American Society of Transplantation Community of Practice groups in July 2021.
*Results: There were 39 respondents representing 21 states across the country and Washington, D.C. including pharmacists, advanced practice providers, and nursing. 81% of centers report transplanting viremic organs to aviremic recipients. 59% of centers do not assess insurance coverage for HCV treatment prior to transplant. 9% of centers start DAAs prophylactically; 30% start preemptively at the time of transplant, both with hospital-acquired medication. 53% of respondents reported that their hospital kept DAAs on formulary. However, the majority of centers treat HCV reactively after the recipient becomes viremic. For thoracic organ recipients, 43% of centers use either a 4-or 8-week course of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (S/V), 42% use 4-or 8-week course of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (G/P) and 15% unsure. For non-liver abdominal organ recipients, 32% used G/P for 8 weeks, 26% used G/P for 12 weeks, and 16% used S/V for 12 weeks, 5% used G/P for 4 weeks and 21% unsure or other. For liver recipients, 35% used G/P for 12 weeks, 18% used G/P for 8 weeks, 18% used S/V for 12 weeks, 5% used G/P for 4 weeks and 24% unsure or other, including S/V for 8 weeks. Most transplant centers do not pay for the full course of HCV treatment, though 26% of centers financially cover the initial inpatient course, followed by insurance coverage for the remainder of treatment. 58% of centers have a safety mechanism in place for covering HCV treatment without insurance approval. Pharmacists and pharmacy staff typically complete the majority of prior authorization and appeal paperwork, spending 1-4 hours on each case. 16% of centers reported that insurance denied DAA after transplantation even after prior authorization request and appeal. 71% of centers reported that their transplant recipients required additional grant assistance to pay for treatment.
*Conclusions: HCV therapy after transplant requires significant financial and resource utilization. There is multicenter variability regarding payer status, treatment strategy and treatment regimens for expected donor-derived HCV infection.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Ryland K, Hattori K, Steinbrink J, Theodoropoulos N, Ison M. Current State of Use of Hepatitis C Viremic Donor Organs in Negative Recipients in the United States: A National Survey [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2022; 22 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/current-state-of-use-of-hepatitis-c-viremic-donor-organs-in-negative-recipients-in-the-united-states-a-national-survey/. Accessed December 3, 2024.« Back to 2022 American Transplant Congress