Abstract
New antiviral therapies for hepatitis C virus infection, with cure rates exceeding 95%, should prompt transplant-community leaders to view HCV-positive organs as a valuable opportunity for transplant candidates with or without preexisting HCV infection.
The scarcity of kidneys for transplantation and high mortality among patients on the waiting list have led some patients to accept kidney transplants that carry elevated risks of transmitting infections or cancer. In certain cases, such as the transmission of cytomegalovirus, physicians can anticipate these events and institute preventive measures. But transplant teams often discard kidneys from donors with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection because of the many complications and historical barriers to successful treatment of HCV. We believe, however, that new antiviral therapies with cure rates exceeding 95%
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should prompt transplant leaders to view HCV-positive organs as a valuable . . .
