Hepatitis C-associated focal proliferative glomerulonephritis in an aviremic recipient of a hepatitis C-positive antibody donor liver.

Shortage of organs for liver transplantation (LT) and the availability of highly efficient pan-genotypic direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) against hepatitis C virus (HCV) have allowed the use of livers from HCV-positive antibody/negative nucleic acid test donors (dHCV Ab+/NAT-) into aviremic HCV recipients over the last few years. We report the case of a patient who received an LT from an HCV Ab+/NAT- donor and, after HCV viremic conversion, developed a nephrotic syndrome due to a focal proliferative glomerulonephritis early after LT. Patient's renal function and proteinuria resolved after successful treatment with DAAs. Renal and hepatic function remain normal over 24 months of follow-up. This case restates the success of LT using livers from dHCV Ab+/NAT- in aviremic recipients in the context of DAAs while illustrating the risk for potential complications associated with the HCV transmission and reinforcing the importance of early initiation of anti-HCV therapy.

Liver Transplantation Using Hepatitis C Virus-Viremic Donors Into Hepatitis C Virus-Aviremic Recipients as Standard of Care.

Liver transplantation (LT) using allografts from hepatitis C virus (HCV)-viremic/nucleic acid testing-positive donors' (DNAT+) organs into HCV-aviremic recipients (rHCV-) has been limited owing to nearly universal HCV transmission and concerns regarding availability, safety, and efficacy post-LT with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy. We report our experience of LT using DNAT+ organs into rHCV- as a routine standard of care. Following verification of DAA access, absence of critical drug-drug interactions (DDIs) with DAAs, and informed consent, allocated DNAT+ organs were offered to patients on the waiting list for LT irrespective of recipient HCV status. Between June 2018 and December 2019, 292/339 rHCV- received an LT. Forty-seven patients were excluded from analysis because of recipient HCV viremia, refusal to receive DNAT+ organs, or inability to receive DAA therapy post-LT. Of these 292 patients, 61 rHCV- received DNAT+ livers (study group), and 231 rHCV- received DNAT- (aviremic donors [nuclear acid test-negative donors]) livers (control group). Recipient and donor characteristics as well as 1-year post-LT patient and graft survival were similar between groups. In the study group, 4 patients died, and 1 patient required retransplantation within the first year post-LT (all unrelated to HCV); 56 patients received DAA therapy, with a median time from LT to the start of DAA treatment of 66.9 days (interquartile range [IQR], 36-68.5), and 51 patients completed DAA treatment, all achieving sustained virologic response for 12 or more weeks (SVR-12) (1 patient required retreatment owing to relapse following initial DAA therapy). No patients had evidence of fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis or extrahepatic manifestations of HCV. This report indicates that transplantation of DNAT+ livers into rHCV- and subsequent DAA therapy is associated with clinical outcomes comparable to those achieved with DNAT- allografts.