Hepatitis C and heart transplantation: An update

Abstract

There are limited data regarding heart transplantation in the setting of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in either recipients or donors, as the practice was infrequent, given concerns of worse post‐transplant outcomes. This changed dramatically after the development of highly effective HCV therapies, namely direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs). Additionally, nucleic acid testing currently in use establishes more precisely the risk of HCV transmission from donors. As a result, chronic HCV infection in itself is no longer a barrier for heart transplant candidates, and the use of HCV‐positive organs for HCV‐infected and non‐infected transplant candidates has increased dramatically. A review of the literature revealed that in the pre‐DAA era, HCV seropositive heart transplant patients had a higher mortality than their seronegative counterparts. However, short‐term data suggest that the differences in survival have been erased in the DAA era. Heart transplantation from HCV‐viremic donors to HCV‐uninfected recipients has become increasingly common as the number of deceased donors with HCV viremia has increased over the past years. Preliminary outcome reports are very encouraging, although further data are needed with regard to long‐term safety. New information continues to be incorporated to optimize protocols that guide this practice.