Donor kidneys with hepatitis C infection can be safely transplanted into noninfected recipients. A regimen of direct-acting antiviral therapies must be initiated as early as two days after the transplant. Findings may help address national shortage in donor kidneys and expand access.

Kidneys from deceased donors with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can be safely transplanted into noninfected recipients when a regimen of direct-acting antiviral therapies is initiated as early as two days after the transplant, according to a study from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). In a multi-center clinical trial reported in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, MGH researchers found that each of 30 kidney recipients were cured of HCV with no serious side effects attributable to the antiviral therapy, and that nearly all maintained excellent allograft function at six months.

Release date: 2 September 2020

Source: Massachusetts General Hospital