A Brazilian university hospital position regarding transplantation criteria for HIV-positive patients according to the current literature

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection was considered a contraindication for solid organ transplantation (SOT) in the past. However, HIV management has improved since highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) became available in 1996, and the long-term survival of patients living with HIV has led many transplant programs to reevaluate their policies regarding the exclusion of patients with HIV infection.Based on the available data in the medical literature and the cumulative experience of transplantation in HIV-positive patients at our hospital, the aim of the present article is to outline the criteria for transplantation in HIV-positive patients as recommended by the Immunocompromised Host Committee of the Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo.

First lung transplantation in a HIV patient in Brazil

“…Although the impact on graft survival is still an issue, improvements on the management of hepatitis C infection will probably reduce such negative impact and render survival rates similar to non-HIV patients. 3 As for lung transplantation, the real impact of HIV on the outcomes of transplantation will need to be assessed in a large cohort of transplanted patients. Meanwhile, our report suggests that with adequate handling of chronic infections and antiretroviral therapy, the impact of HIV infection can be attenuated.…”