ATC Abstracts

American Transplant Congress abstracts

  • Home
  • Meetings Archive
    • 2022 American Transplant Congress
    • 2021 American Transplant Congress
    • 2020 American Transplant Congress
    • 2019 American Transplant Congress
    • 2018 American Transplant Congress
    • 2017 American Transplant Congress
    • 2016 American Transplant Congress
    • 2015 American Transplant Congress
    • 2013 American Transplant Congress
  • Keyword Index
  • Resources
    • 2021 Resources
    • 2016 Resources
      • 2016 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2016 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2015-2016
      • AST Board of Directors 2015-2016
    • 2015 Resources
      • 2015 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2015 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2014-2015
      • AST Board of Directors 2014-2015
      • 2015 Conference Schedule
  • Search

The Effect of Pulsatile Pump Perfusion on Hepatitis C Viremia and Transmission in Kidney Transplantation: A Prospective Pilot Study

R. Forbes1, B. Concepcion1, D. Clapper2, B. Dubray1, A. Miller2, D. Shaffer1, K. Johnson2

1Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 2Tennessee Donor Services, Nashville, TN

Meeting: 2020 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: 71

Keywords: Hepatitis C, Kidney, Kidney transplantation, Preservation solutions

Session Information

Session Name: Deceased Donor Intervention and Management Research

Session Type: Oral Abstract Session

Date: Saturday, May 30, 2020

Session Time: 3:15pm-4:45pm

 Presentation Time: 3:51pm-4:03pm

Location: Virtual

*Purpose: With increasing utilization of hepatitis C (HCV) viremic donor organs for aviremic recipients, there may be a role for kidney pulsatile pump perfusion to decrease perfusate viral load over time to reduce HCV transmission.

*Methods: We performed a single center, prospective trial of HCV viremic donors for which our center was allocated both donor kidneys, thus creating transplant pairs, one of which was pumped with perfusate exchanges every 4 hours with viral load testing at least every 4 hours. Donor, recipient, and transplant characteristics as well as clinical outcomes were obtained. A linear regression was performed to quantify the association between pump time and perfusate viral load. Means (SD) were computed and the Wilcoxon signed rank test utilized to compare paired pumped vs unpumped recipients.

*Results: We included 6 HCV viremic donors for 6 pairs of aviremic recipients. The average time on the pump was 505 minutes (range: 240-880 minutes). Viral levels in the perfusate of the 6 pumped kidneys showed detectable virus throughout the pump cycles (Figure 1A). Although perfusate viral levels decreased with increasing pump times, this was not statistically significant (ß= -0.48, p=0.36). All recipients had detectable HCV RNA by postoperative day 3; the 6 recipients who had kidneys pumped had a mean viral load level less but not significantly than the unpumped recipient, 1,352±2,006 vs 26,170±61,211, p=0.09 (Figure 1B). The pumped patient cohort viral load (413,471±802,120) compared to unpumped (4,360,359±1.01e+07) cohort at 1 week was also not different, p=0.34. Mean±SD time to initiation of direct acting antiviral (DAA) was 32±12 vs 26±7 days (p=0.17) and mean±SD time to undetectable levels was 66±27 vs 55±22 days (p=0.82) for the pumped and unpumped cohorts, respectively. There were no episodes of delayed graft function with the mean±SD cold ischemia time being 1000 ±338 and 553±320 minutes (p=0.03) for the pumped and unpumped cohorts, respectively.

*Conclusions: A short course of pulsatile perfusion alone does not appear adequate to decrease HCV transmission. It may decrease the initial inoculum of HCV, however this seems clinically insignificant. Future studies should include additional ex-vivo interventions such as DAA- or methylene-blue infused perfusate while on the pump or treatment with ultraviolet light.

 border=

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Forbes R, Concepcion B, Clapper D, Dubray B, Miller A, Shaffer D, Johnson K. The Effect of Pulsatile Pump Perfusion on Hepatitis C Viremia and Transmission in Kidney Transplantation: A Prospective Pilot Study [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2020; 20 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/the-effect-of-pulsatile-pump-perfusion-on-hepatitis-c-viremia-and-transmission-in-kidney-transplantation-a-prospective-pilot-study/. Accessed May 28, 2025.

« Back to 2020 American Transplant Congress

Visit Our Partner Sites

American Transplant Congress (ATC)

Visit the official site for the American Transplant Congress »

American Journal of Transplantation

The official publication for the American Society of Transplantation (AST) and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) »

American Society of Transplantation (AST)

An organization of more than 3000 professionals dedicated to advancing the field of transplantation. »

American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS)

The society represents approximately 1,800 professionals dedicated to excellence in transplantation surgery. »

Copyright © 2013-2025 by American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Cookie Preferences