Donor evaluation in the era of HIV-positive organ transplantation: The importance of the infectious diseases specialist

Abstract

A 61-year-old female with well-controlled human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and end-stage renal disease was on the kidney transplant waitlist awaiting an organ offer, including from HIV-positive donors through the HIV Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act. We present three different scenarios where HIV-positive donor offers were evaluated for this one recipient, discuss the donor evaluation process, explain where the infectious diseases provider fits in this scheme, and describe the challenges encountered by organ procurement organizations. This is the first case under the HOPE Act at our center where discovery of an HIV-specific issue led to a turndown of an organ offer.