Hepatitis C Positive Organ Donation in Heart Transplantation

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To summarize outcomes to date, as well as important considerations and unanswered questions related to the use of hepatitis C virus (HCV) positive donors for heart transplantation. RECENT FINDINGS: Outcomes from single-center studies and registry data to date suggest that among patients who develop donor-transmitted HCV after heart transplantation, direct-acting antiviral therapies (DAAT) are effective and well-tolerated, and that short-term survival is similar to that of patients transplanted with HCV − donors. SUMMARY: In an era marked by increasing numbers of HCV positive deceased donors and a growing imbalance between the demand and supply of donor hearts, utilization of HCV + donors is a feasible strategy to expand the donor pool and reduce waitlist times. Ongoing work is needed to clarify longer-term outcomes with the use of this strategy.