Transplanting hepatitis C virus–infected hearts into uninfected recipients: A single‐arm trial. Issue 9 (20th March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McLean, Rhondalyn C.; Reese, Peter P.; Acker, Michael; Atluri, Pavan; Bermudez, Christian; Goldberg, Lee R.; Abt, Peter L.; Blumberg, Emily A.; Van Deerlin, Vivianna M.; Reddy, K. Rajender; Bloom, Roy D.; Hasz, Richard; Suplee, Lawrence; Sicilia, Anna; Woodards, Ashley; Zahid, Muhammad Nauman; Bar, Katharine J.; Porrett, Paige; Levine, Matthew H.; Hornsby, Nicole; Gentile, Caren; Smith, Jennifer; Goldberg, David S.
• Is Part Of: American journal of transplantation. Volume 19:Issue 9(2019)
• Page Start: 2533
• Page End: 2542
• Publication Date: 2019-03-20
• Subjects: clinical research/practice -- heart (allograft) function/dysfunction -- heart failure/injury -- heart transplantation/cardiology -- infection and infectious agents ‐ viral -- organ allocation -- organ procurement and allocation -- organ transplantation in general; Transplantation of organs, tissues, etc -- Periodicals; 617.95
• DOI: 10.1111/ajt.15311
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1600-6135

Abstract

Abstract : The advent of direct‐acting antiviral therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) has generated tremendous interest in transplanting organs from HCV‐infected donors. We conducted a single‐arm trial of orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) from HCV‐infected donors into uninfected recipients, followed by elbasvir/grazoprevir treatment after recipient HCV was first detected (NCT03146741; sponsor: Merck). We enrolled OHT candidates aged 40‐65 years; left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support and liver disease were exclusions. We accepted hearts from HCV‐genotype 1 donors. From May 16, 2017 to May 10, 2018, 20 patients consented for screening and enrolled, and 10 (median age 52.5 years; 80% male) underwent OHT. The median wait from UNOS opt‐in for HCV nucleic‐acid‐test (NAT)+ donor offers to OHT was 39 days (interquartile range [IQR] 17‐57). The median donor age was 34 years (IQR 31‐37). Initial recipient HCV RNA levels ranged from 25 IU/mL to 40 million IU/mL, but all 10 patients had rapid decline in HCV NAT after elbasvir/grazoprevir treatment. Nine recipients achieved sustained virologic response at 12 weeks (SVR‐12). The 10th recipient had a positive cross‐match, experienced antibody‐mediated rejection and multi‐organ failure, and died on day 79. No serious adverse events occurred from HCV transmission or treatment. These short‐term results suggest that HCV‐negative candidates transplanted with HCV‐infected hearts have acceptable outcomes. Abstract : The pilot USHER trial, involving 10 heart recipients, provides important evidence that transplanting hepatitis C virus–infected hearts into uninfected recipients poses reasonable risks and that hepatitis C cure rates are high even in the context of transplant immunosuppression.