Sapna S Humar1, Natalia Pinzon1, Marcelo Cypel1, Susan Abbey1,2. 1. Multi-Organ Transplant Program, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 2. Department of Mental Health, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Little is known about patient perceptions regarding HCV+ organ use in non-HCV-infected recipients. This study examined factors influencing the decision to accept HCV+ organs and the resulting impacts. METHODS: Adult lung transplant (LT) patients or candidates who had consented to receive an HCV+ organ completed a survey including multiple choice, a five-point Likert scale, and free-text answers. A total of 67 LT recipients or candidates who had consented to receive HCV+ organs were enrolled, of which 21/67 (31%) received HCV+ lungs, 39 (58%) HCV- lungs, and seven (10%) were still waiting. RESULTS: Pre-transplant, 50/67 (75%) patients felt it was either "completely safe" or "very safe" to accept an HCV+ organ. Although 22/67 (33%) said they never or rarely took risks, they still made the decision to accept an HCV+ organ. Common reported reasons were desperation, perception of having "no choice," and increasing symptom severity. In the subset of patients that were transplanted with an HCV+ organ (n = 21), only 12.5% reported second thoughts about accepting. Post-transplant, the majority (87.5%) never felt any anxiety about HCV and most (83%) reported no impact from HCV. Perception of treatment tolerability and ease was highly favorable. CONCLUSION: Use of HCV+ organs demonstrated minimal detrimental perceived impacts on lung transplant patients. Patients generally found the experience to be very positive.
INTRODUCTION: Little is known about patient perceptions regarding HCV+ organ use in non-HCV-infected recipients. This study examined factors influencing the decision to accept HCV+ organs and the resulting impacts. METHODS: Adult lung transplant (LT) patients or candidates who had consented to receive an HCV+ organ completed a survey including multiple choice, a five-point Likert scale, and free-text answers. A total of 67 LT recipients or candidates who had consented to receive HCV+ organs were enrolled, of which 21/67 (31%) received HCV+ lungs, 39 (58%) HCV- lungs, and seven (10%) were still waiting. RESULTS: Pre-transplant, 50/67 (75%) patients felt it was either "completely safe" or "very safe" to accept an HCV+ organ. Although 22/67 (33%) said they never or rarely took risks, they still made the decision to accept an HCV+ organ. Common reported reasons were desperation, perception of having "no choice," and increasing symptom severity. In the subset of patients that were transplanted with an HCV+ organ (n = 21), only 12.5% reported second thoughts about accepting. Post-transplant, the majority (87.5%) never felt any anxiety about HCV and most (83%) reported no impact from HCV. Perception of treatment tolerability and ease was highly favorable. CONCLUSION: Use of HCV+ organs demonstrated minimal detrimental perceived impacts on lung transplant patients. Patients generally found the experience to be very positive.
Authors: Daniel T Doherty; Varinder Athwal; Zia Moinuddin; Titus Augustine; Martin Prince; David van Dellen; Hussein A Khambalia Journal: Transpl Int Date: 2022-05-03 Impact factor: 3.842