A systematic review examined the impact of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) on transplants from donors who were hepatitis C virus (HCV) positive to recipients who were HCV negative across various organ types. Globally, there’s a significant shortage of organ donors, with HCV affecting 2% to 3% of the global population. Despite an increase in deceased donors, many die daily due to the lack of available donors. The review focused on the effectiveness of DAA treatments in managing HCV infection post-transplant, indicating that these treatments are crucial in improving the viability of HCV-positive organs for transplantation. The study concluded that with suitable therapy, treatment, and monitoring, patients can receive organs from HCV-positive donors and lead fulfilled lives when following DAA treatment regimens. This finding is significant in addressing the organ donor shortage by potentially increasing the donor pool with HCV-positive donors.

Reference: Zahid MN. Transplantation of Organs from Hepatitis C Virus-Positive Donors under Direct-Acting Antiviral Regimens. J Clin Med. 2022 Jan 31;11(3):770. doi: 10.3390/jcm11030770. PMID: 35160222; PMCID: PMC8836390.