The New Direct Antiviral Agents and Hepatitis C in Thoracic Transplantation: Impact on Donors and Recipients

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The landscape of abdominal organ transplantation has been altered by the emergence of curative direct-acting antiviral agents for hepatitis C. Expansion of the thoracic donor pool to include the hearts and the lungs from hepatitis C-positive donors holds promise to increase available donor organs. RECENT FINDINGS: Case reports have documented separate lung and heart transplant patients who acquired, and then were cured of, donor-derived hepatitis C using these newer, more effective therapies. Single sites and national consortia are underway to help make this approach part of the standard-of-care. Pangenotypic therapies may simplify the paradigm. SUMMARY: Organs from donors with active hepatitis C viremia are likely suitable for transplant as long as the organ is otherwise acceptable. Best-practices for “informed-risk” transplant include a team-based approach and a selection of the antiviral regimen based on insurer’s formulary, potential drug interactions, and genotype.