Transmission of human immunodeficiency virus infection by renal transplantation

The rare occurrence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission through organ transplantation cannot override the huge impact that it has on the patient. We report a case of HIV transmission by renal transplantation in a 33-year-old housewife, who received a living related transplantation from her sister. Both the patient and her donor were negative by HIV antibody testing prior to transplantation, but were found to be infected in the ninth month after transplant. Further testing suggested that the donor was in the window period at the time of organ donation after having acquired the infection from her husband.