National Landscape of HIV+ Liver Transplant Candidates

A. Shaffer,¹ A. Thomas,¹ A. Massie,¹ S. Gustafson,² J. Snyder,² B. Shelton,³ R. Reed,³ J. Locke,³ D. Segev,¹ C. Durand.¹

¹JHU, Baltimore
²SRTR, Minneapolis
³UAB, Birmingham.

Meeting: 2018 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: C309

Keywords: Hepatitis C, HIV virus, Liver transplantation, Waiting lists

Session Information

Session Name: Poster Session C: Transplant Infectious Diseases

Session Type: Poster Session

Date: Monday, June 4, 2018

Session Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm

Presentation Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm

Location: Hall 4EF

The annual number of HIV+ liver transplant (LT) recipients has increased >10-fold since 2002. However, candidate HIV-status is not collected by UNOS, and the national landscape of the HIV+ LT waitlist is not well characterized.

METHODS: We identified HIV+ candidates using SRTR (2002-2012) linked to pharmacy claims (covering 65% of the LT waitlist) and compared demographic and health characteristics of HIV+ vs. HIV- candidates using rank-sum and chi-squared tests.

RESULTS: We identified 581 HIV+ LT candidates, and the number listed increased over time (Figure1). The proportion of HIV+ LT candidates ranged from 0-2.5% by OPO (Figure2). HIV+ candidates were younger, more likely to be black, male, willing to accept HCV+ donors, and have public insurance, and less likely to be obese (vs. HIV-). Hepatitis C was the leading cause of liver disease in both groups, but was more frequent in HIV+ candidates (51.5% vs. 31.4%) (Table1).

CONCLUSION: HIV+ LT candidates are a growing, understudied population with a larger burden of hepatitis C than HIV- candidates. Given the differences between HIV+ and HIV- candidates, future studies should address the role of HIV in waitlist outcomes.

Table 1. Demographic and health characteristics for HIV+ vs. HIV- liver transplant candidates.
Characteristic	HIV+ (n=581)	HIV- (n=71,793)	p-value
Age at listing, Median (IQR)	51 (46-55)	55 (49-60)	<0.001
%Women	17.7	35.5	<0.001
%Black	19.1	8.1	<0.001
%HCV+	51.5	31.4	<0.001
Willing to accept HCV+ donor	58.7	45.7	<0.001
%Obese	18.5	40.0	<0.001
%Public Insurance	47.7	37.1	<0.001

CITATION INFORMATION: Shaffer A., Thomas A., Massie A., Gustafson S., Snyder J., Shelton B., Reed R., Locke J., Segev D., Durand C. National Landscape of HIV+ Liver Transplant Candidates Am J Transplant. 2017;17 (suppl 3).

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Shaffer A, Thomas A, Massie A, Gustafson S, Snyder J, Shelton B, Reed R, Locke J, Segev D, Durand C. National Landscape of HIV+ Liver Transplant Candidates [abstract]. https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/national-landscape-of-hiv-liver-transplant-candidates/. Accessed May 16, 2025.

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