Real World Impact of HCV Viremic Solid Organs on Waitlist Times

N. Kapila¹, A. Ur Rahman¹, K. Gupta², K. Al Khalloufi³, E. Navas³, D. Reino³, S. Ebaid³, N. Agarwal³, J. Shaw³, C. Murgas³, S. Rhazouani³, A. Zeeshan³, A. Tzakis³, C. Sheffield³, J. Vanatta³, X. Zervos³

¹Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL, ²Internal Medicine, University of Miami/JFK Consortium, Atlantis, FL, ³Transplant, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL

Meeting: 2019 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: D235

Keywords: Donation, Hepatitis C, Waiting lists

Session Information

Session Name: Poster Session D: Non-Organ Specific: Viral Hepatitis

Session Type: Poster Session

Date: Tuesday, June 4, 2019

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

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

Location: Hall C & D

*Purpose: The advent of direct acting antiviral agents (DAAs) has led to a paradigm shift in the approach to hepatitis C (HCV) infected organs. The aim of this study is to present the impact of HCV viremic organs on waitlist times at a single transplant center.

*Methods: All patients who underwent solid organ transplantation from January 10, 2018 were included. During this period, patients were consented by protocol on the transplantation of HCV viremic organs. Waitlist times for patients undergoing kidney, heart, and liver transplantation were studied. Study end points included the average total waitlist time, the waitlist time for HCV negative donors, total waitlist time for HCV viremic donors, and the waitlist time for HCV viremic donors after they consented to receive an HCV viremic graft. Statistical analysis was performed using a paired t test.

*Results: During this period, 190 patients underwent kidney transplantation (KT), 23 patients underwent heart transplantation (HT), and 52 patients underwent liver transplantation (LT). The average waitlist time for all patients undergoing KT was 238 days. Sixty-eight patients received an HCV nucleic acid test (NAT) positive kidney graft with an average total waitlist time of 214.4 days and after consenting to received HCV positive organs, the waitlist time was 60.11 days (p=0.0001). For those patients undergoing HT, the average waitlist time for those receiving a viremic organ was 328.6 days and for those receiving an HCV negative graft, 77.9 days (p=0.001). Six patients received an HCV NAT positive graft with a mean waitlist time of 62.4 days (p=0.015). Six patients underwent LT and received a viremic graft with an average waitlist of 85.5 days compared to 99.5 days (p=0.8) for those who received a NAT negative graft. After consenting to receive an HCV positive organ, the average waitlist time was 42.2 days (p=0.37).

*Conclusions: Our data suggests that in the DAA era, patients who undergo solid organ transplantation may decrease their waitlist time by accepting HCV viremic organs. The utilization of HCV viremic grafts has the potential to expand the donor pool and expedite transplantation.

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Kapila N, Rahman AUr, Gupta K, Khalloufi KAl, Navas E, Reino D, Ebaid S, Agarwal N, Shaw J, Murgas C, Rhazouani S, Zeeshan A, Tzakis A, Sheffield C, Vanatta J, Zervos X. Real World Impact of HCV Viremic Solid Organs on Waitlist Times [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2019; 19 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/real-world-impact-of-hcv-viremic-solid-organs-on-waitlist-times/. Accessed June 23, 2025.

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