Acceptable recipient outcomes with the use of hearts from donors with hepatitis-B core antibodies

International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation Guidelines for the Evaluation and Care of Cardiac Transplant Candidates-2024

The "International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation Guidelines for the Evaluation and Care of Cardiac Transplant Candidates-2024" updates and replaces the "Listing Criteria for Heart Transplantation: International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation Guidelines for the Care of Cardiac Transplant Candidates-2006" and the "2016 International Society for Heart Lung Transplantation Listing Criteria for Heart Transplantation: A 10-year Update." The document aims to provide tools to help integrate the numerous variables involved in evaluating patients for transplantation, emphasizing updating the collaborative treatment while waiting for a transplant. There have been significant practice-changing developments in the care of heart transplant recipients since the publication of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) guidelines in 2006 and the 10-year update in 2016. The changes pertain to 3 aspects of heart transplantation: (1) patient selection criteria, (2) care of selected patient populations, and (3) durable mechanical support. To address these issues, 3 task forces were assembled. Each task force was cochaired by a pediatric heart transplant physician with the specific mandate to highlight issues unique to the pediatric heart transplant population and ensure their adequate representation. This guideline was harmonized with other ISHLT guidelines published through November 2023. The 2024 ISHLT guidelines for the evaluation and care of cardiac transplant candidates provide recommendations based on contemporary scientific evidence and patient management flow diagrams. The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association modular knowledge chunk format has been implemented, allowing guideline information to be grouped into discrete packages (or modules) of information on a disease-specific topic or management issue. Aiming to improve the quality of care for heart transplant candidates, the recommendations present an evidence-based approach.

The First Dedicated Comprehensive Heart Failure Program in the United States: The Division of Circulatory Physiology at Columbia Presbyterian (1992-2004)

The first dedicated multidisciplinary heart failure program in the United States was founded as the Division of Circulatory Physiology at the Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons in 1992. The Division was administratively and financially independent of the Division of Cardiology and grew to 24 faculty members at its peak. Its administrative innovations included (1) a comprehensive full-integrated service line, with 2 differentiated clinical teams, one devoted to drug therapy and the other to heart transplantation and ventricular assist devices; (2) a nurse specialist/physician assistant-led clinical service; and (3) a financial structure independent of (and not supported by) other cardiovascular medical or surgical services. The division had 3 overarching missions: (1) to promote a unique career development path for each faculty member to be linked to recognition in a specific area of heart failure expertise; (2) to change the trajectory and enhance the richness of intellectual discourse in the discipline of heart failure, so as to foster an understanding of fundamental mechanisms and to develop new therapeutics; and (3) to provide optimal medical care to patients and to promote the ability of other physicians to provide optimal care. The major research achievements of the division included (1) the development of beta-blockers for heart failure, from initial hemodynamic assessments to proof-of-concept studies to large-scale international trials; (2) the development and definitive assessment of flosequinan, amlodipine, and endothelin antagonists; (3) initial clinical trials and concerns with nesiritide; (4) large-scale trials evaluating dosing of angiotensin converting-enzyme inhibitors and the efficacy and safety of neprilysin inhibition; (5) identification of key mechanisms in heart failure, including neurohormonal activation, microcirculatory endothelial dysfunction, deficiencies in peripheral vasodilator pathways, noncardiac factors in driving dyspnea, and the first identification of subphenotypes of heart failure and a preserved ejection fraction; (6) the development of a volumetric approach to the assessment of myocardial shortening; (7) conceptualization and early studies of cardiac contractility modulation as a treatment for heart failure; (8) novel approaches to the identification of cardiac allograft rejection and new therapeutics to prevent allograft vasculopathy; and (9) demonstration of the effect of left ventricular assist devices to induce reverse remodeling, and the first randomized trial showing a survival benefit with ventricular assist devices. Above all, the division served as an exceptional incubator for a generation of leaders in the field of heart failure.

Hepatitis B in Heart Transplant Donors and Recipients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Expanding the heart donor pool to include patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) could help ameliorate the organ shortage in heart transplantation. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the management and recipient outcomes of D+/R- and D-/R+ heart transplants.

METHODS

An electronic search was performed to identify all relevant studies published on heart transplants involving HBV+ donors and/or HBV+ recipients. A comparison was performed between two groups where heart transplants were performed a) D+/R- (n = 98) versus b) D-/R+ (n = 65).

RESULTS

Overall, 13 studies were selected, comprising 163 patients. Mean patient age was 55 y (95% CI: 39, 78) and 79% (69, 86) were male. Active post-transplant HBV infection requiring antiviral treatment occurred in 11% (1, 69) of D+/R- recipients and 33% (9, 71) of D-/R+ recipients. Post-transplant antiviral therapy was given to 80% (6, 100) of D+/R- recipients compared to 72% (42, 90) of D-/R+ recipients (P = 0.84). Hepatitis-related mortality was observed in no D+/R- recipients and 7% (2, 27) of D-/R+ recipients. Survival 1-y post-transplant was comparable between both groups at 83% (83, 92) and 81% (61, 92) for D+/R- and D-/R+ transplants, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our review found that HBV D+/R- heart transplantation was associated with fewer active hepatitis infections and lower hepatitis-related mortality than D-/R+ transplantation, with comparable survival at 1 y. Additional studies utilizing HBV nucleic acid testing (NAT) to compare outcomes with HBsAg+ and anti-HBc+ donors are crucial to reach more definitive conclusions about the risk of donor-derived infections in this context.

Donor heart selection: Evidence-based guidelines for providers

The proposed donor heart selection guidelines provide evidence-based and expert-consensus recommendations for the selection of donor hearts following brain death. These recommendations were compiled by an international panel of experts based on an extensive literature review.

Incidence of post-transplant hepatitis B virus reactivation with the use of kidneys from donors with resolved hepatitis B virus infection

Donors with resolved hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection may be a solution for the organ shortage for kidney transplantation (KT). The purpose of this study was to clarify the current state of HBV markers after KT from donors with resolved HBV infection to HBV naïve recipients and the rate of HBV reactivation in recipients with resolved HBV infection. Furthermore, we investigated HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in transplanted organs from donors with resolved HBV infection and the capability of HBV replication in kidney cell lines. We retrospectively analysed the HBV status of 340 consecutive donors and recipients who underwent KT in a single centre. We prospectively measured cccDNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction in kidney biopsy specimens of 32 donors with resolved HBV infection. HBV reactivation was found in three recipients with resolved HBV infection (4.8%, 3/63) after KT. We analysed 45 cases of transplantation from donors with resolved HBV infection to HBV-naive recipients. One case (2.2%, 1/45) became seropositive for hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) and in another case (2.2%, 1/45), HBV-DNA was detected qualitatively in an HBV naive recipient with a donor with resolved HBV infection. In the latter case, cccDNA was measured in the donor kidney during KT. HBV replication was observed in kidney cell lines with HBV plasmid transfection. In conclusion, the risk of reactivation in anti-HBc-positive donors is relatively low. However, post-transplant HBV monitoring should be conducted in all at-risk cases.

HBV-positive and HIV-positive organs in transplantation: A clinical guide for the hepatologist

Organ transplantation is a life-saving treatment for patients with end-stage organ disease, a severe condition associated with a high risk of waitlist mortality. It is primarily limited by a shortage of available organs. Maximising available donors can increase access to transplantation. Transplantation from donors positive for HBV and HIV has increased in many countries. However, antiviral therapies need to be readily available for recipients after transplantation to prevent possible reactivation of the virus following the administration of immunosuppressive therapies. Furthermore, the intentional transmission of a virus has practical, ethical, and clinical implications. In this review, we summarise the current research, focusing on grafts from donors positive for the HBV surface antigen, antibodies against the HBV core antigen, and HIV, to help hepatologists and physicians interested in transplantation to select the best antiviral and/or prophylactic regimens for after transplantation.

Risk of disease transmission in an expanded donor population: the potential of hepatitis B virus donors

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Lack of availability of donor organs is a constant challenge that patients and providers face in transplantation. To address this shortage, donors that test positive for hepatitis B, in particular those with resolved infection, have been increasingly utilized in clinical practice. We review here the potential risks for the recipient and the advances in hepatitis B management that have made use of these donors a well tolerated and advisable proposition.

RECENT FINDINGS

As routine administration of antiviral prophylaxis in the posttransplant setting among those deemed high risk for transmission, outcomes for recipients of hepatitis B donors, including liver transplant recipients, have been comparable to uninfected donors. Universal hepatitis B nucleic acid testing of donors has also enhanced our ability to accurately inform recipients regarding transmission risk. Appropriate use of prophylaxis and careful monitoring for transmission posttransplant is key to ensuring no adverse outcomes occur.

SUMMARY

Treatment of hepatitis B has evolved over the past two decades. Expanding the donor pool with hepatitis B donors is now well tolerated, ethical, and advantageous to the transplant community at large. A clear discussion with recipients on the substantial benefit and low harm of using hepatitis B donors will lead to greater acceptance and utilization of these organs.

New Approaches to Donor Selection and Preparation in Heart Transplantation

Purpose of review

With increasing survival of patients with stage D heart failure, the demand for heart transplantation has increased. The supply of donor hearts remains relatively limited. Strategies have been investigated and new technologies have been developed to expand the current donor pool. These new approaches will be discussed herein.

Recent findings

Donor hearts are often considered “marginal” due to risk factors such as older age, size mismatch with the intended recipient, prolonged ischemic time, presence of left ventricular hypertrophy, and hepatitis B/C infection. We reviewed recent data regarding the use of donor hearts with these risk factors and suggest ways to safely liberalize current donor heart acceptance criteria. New technologies such as temperature-controlled transport systems and ex vivo cardiac perfusion methods have also demonstrated promising short-term and intermediate outcomes as compared with routine cold storage, by promoting heart preservation and enabling heart procurement from remote sites with shorter cold ischemic time. Recent use of hearts from donation after circulatory death donors has demonstrated comparable outcomes to conventional donation after brain death, which can further expand the current donor pool.

Summary

Careful selection of “marginal” donor hearts, use of ex vivo cardiac perfusion, and acceptance of hearts after circulatory death may expand our current cardiac donor pool with comparable outcomes to conventional donor selection and preparation methods.

Viral Diagnostics

This chapter discusses recent developments in diagnostics for cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), BK virus (BKV), community respiratory viruses (CRVs), parvovirus, hepatitis viruses, HIV, and other viral agents of importance in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Infectious Disease Transmission in Solid Organ Transplantation: Donor Evaluation, Recipient Risk, and Outcomes of Transmission

In 2016, the Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand, with the support of the Australian Government Organ and Tissue authority, commissioned a literature review on the topic of infectious disease transmission from deceased donors to recipients of solid organ transplants. The purpose of this review was to synthesize evidence on transmission risks, diagnostic test characteristics, and recipient management to inform best-practice clinical guidelines. The final review, presented as a special supplement in Transplantation Direct, collates case reports of transmission events and other peer-reviewed literature, and summarizes current (as of June 2017) international guidelines on donor screening and recipient management. Of particular interest at the time of writing was how to maximize utilization of donors at increased risk for transmission of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C virus, and hepatitis B virus, given the recent developments, including the availability of direct-acting antivirals for hepatitis C virus and improvements in donor screening technologies. The review also covers emerging risks associated with recent epidemics (eg, Zika virus) and the risk of transmission of nonendemic pathogens related to donor travel history or country of origin. Lastly, the implications for recipient consent of expanded utilization of donors at increased risk of blood-borne viral disease transmission are considered.

Hepatitis B in Solid-Organ Transplant Procedures Other Than Liver

Transplant is often the best treatment available for patients with end-stage organ failure. Hepatitis B virus infection in transplant procedures other than liver is a major concern because it can be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality after transplant. Due to the increased risk of hepatic complications, such as fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis or histologic deterioration after transplant, systematic use of nucleoside or nucleotide analogues shortly before or at the time of transplant is recommended (tenofovir or entecavir are preferable to lamivudine) in all patients, whatever the baseline histologic evaluation. Sustained viral suppression may result in regression of fibrosis, which in turn may lead to decreased disease-related morbidity and improved survival. Finally, due to the high mortality after nonliver transplant procedures, decompensated cirrhosis from chronic hepatitis B should be considered as a contraindication to nonliver transplant but an indication to combined organ transplant (ie, liver-kidney transplant). Because of the high prevalence of hepatitis B virus exposure in allograft donors and recipients, hepatitis B virus status must be considered during organ allocation. Prevention of hepatitis B virus-related complications in transplant recipients starts with vaccination and donor-recipient matching.

Guidelines for the assessment and acceptance of potential brain-dead organ donors

Organ transplantation is the only alternative for many patients with terminal diseases. The increasing disproportion between the high demand for organ transplants and the low rate of transplants actually performed is worrisome. Some of the causes of this disproportion are errors in the identification of potential organ donors and in the determination of contraindications by the attending staff. Therefore, the aim of the present document is to provide guidelines for intensive care multi-professional staffs for the recognition, assessment and acceptance of potential organ donors.

Solid organ transplantation from hepatitis B virus-positive donors: consensus guidelines for recipient management

Use of organs from donors testing positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV) may safely expand the donor pool. The American Society of Transplantation convened a multidisciplinary expert panel that reviewed the existing literature and developed consensus recommendations for recipient management following the use of organs from HBV positive donors. Transmission risk is highest with liver donors and significantly lower with non-liver (kidney and thoracic) donors. Antiviral prophylaxis significantly reduces the rate of transmission to liver recipients from isolated HBV core antibody positive (anti-HBc+) donors. Organs from anti-HBc+ donors should be considered for all adult transplant candidates after an individualized assessment of the risks and benefits and appropriate patient consent. Indefinite antiviral prophylaxis is recommended in liver recipients with no immunity or vaccine immunity but not in liver recipients with natural immunity. Antiviral prophylaxis may be considered for up to 1 year in susceptible non-liver recipients but is not recommended in immune non-liver recipients. Although no longer the treatment of choice in patients with chronic HBV, lamivudine remains the most cost-effective choice for prophylaxis in this setting. Hepatitis B immunoglobulin is not recommended.

Hepatitis B core antibody-positive donors in cardiac transplantation: a single-center experience

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) core antibody (HBcAb)-positive donors are increasingly utilized in solid organ transplantation. We report a single center's experience in cardiac transplantation with 18 HBcAb-positive donors. Available follow-up on recipients of cardiac allografts from HBcAb-positive donors, including 2 donors with low-level serum HBV DNA at the time of transplantation, demonstrated no documented donor-derived HBV transmission.

Influence of HBcAb positivity in the organ donor in heart transplantation

OBJECTIVE

There is a significant risk of hepatitis B transmission from HBsAg (-), HBcAb (+) donors in liver transplantation, but there is little information about hepatitis B transmission from HBcAb heart donors. The present study examines the influence of HBcAb presence in relation to heart donor acceptance and offers an update of the published studies.

DESIGN

Survey and medical database update from 1994 to October 2011.

SETTING

Spanish heart transplantation teams.

PATIENTS

Not applicable.

STUDY VARIABLES

Acceptance of heart transplant from an HBcAb (+) organ donor.

RESULTS

Twelve out of 15 surveyed teams were seen to vaccinate against HBV, and two quantify HBsAb titers. Seven teams specifically request donor HBcAb status. If the latter proves positive, two do not accept transplantation, two accept if the donor is also HBsAb (+), one selects the receptor under emergency conditions, and three use drug prophylaxis isolatedly or complementary to the above. Only one case of hepatitis B has been reported in a HBcAb (-) and HBsAb (-) receptor that did not receive prophylactic measures. There have been reports of seroconversion of the HBcAb and HBsAb markers, though with an uncertain etiology.

CONCLUSIONS

HBcAb seropositivity influences acceptance of a heart donor, but agreement is lacking. There is limited information on receptor evolution. To date there has been one reported case of hepatitis B after heart transplant. Although rare, an HBcAb (+) donor can harbor occult HBV infection. The risk of infection can be prevented with appropriate HBsAb titers following vaccination or by pharmacological measures.

An overview of occult hepatitis B virus infection

Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (OBI), alternatively defined as occult hepatitis B (OHB), is a challenging clinical entity. It is recognized by two main characteristics: absence of HBsAg, and low viral replication. The previous two decades have witnessed a remarkable progress in our understanding of OBI and its clinical implications. Appropriate diagnostic techniques must be adopted. Sensitive HBV DNA amplification assay is the gold standard assay for detection of OBI. Viral as well as host factors are implicated in the pathogenesis of OBI. However, published data reporting the infectivity of OBI by transfusion are limited. Several aspects including OBI transmission, infectivity and its relation to the development of chronic liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma have to be resolved. The aim of the present review is to highlight recent data on OBI with a focus on its virological diagnosis and clinical outcome.

Can Donors With Prior Hepatitis Be Safely Used for Heart Transplantation?

BACKGROUND

Heart transplantation represents a significant life-saving and increased quality-of-life intervention for patients with refractory cardiac failure. Successful transplantation requires continuous immunosuppression to avoid immune rejection. Unfortunately, persistent viral infections in donors may be transmitted to recipients in the process of heart transplantation. With the severe shortage of available organs and significant waiting list mortality there is a rationale for considering use of organs from donors with evidence of prior hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C infection.

METHODS

Published literature articles were searched using Medline, PaperChase and further review of references in relevant articles on issues related to hepatitis B and hepatitis C and heart transplantation.

RESULTS

Donor and recipient testing for hepatitis B and hepatitis C is important for relative risk assessment. Nucleic acid testing for hepatitis B DNA and hepatitis C RNA represent emerging technologies, which may add valuable information to traditional serologic testing.

CONCLUSIONS

Heart transplant recipient risk may be modified by vaccination against hepatitis B before transplantation. There is currently no available vaccine for hepatitis C. Recently described effective treatments for hepatitis B and hepatitis C provide further rationale for reconsideration of using hearts from donors with evidence of hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C infection.

Lamivudine prophylaxis for hepatitis B virus infection after lung transplantation

BACKGROUND

Several reports have shown the efficacy of prophylactic lamivudine treatment for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in liver and renal transplantations. No data are available, however, after lung transplantation. We report our experience with prophylactic lamivudine treatment in lung transplant recipients with HBV infection or when the donor was HBc antibody positive.

METHODS

All our 120 lung transplant recipients and their donors were routinely screened for HBV markers. All recipients who tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen and negative for HBV-DNA, or had organs from donors who tested positive for hepatitis B core antibody, were treated prophylactically with lamivudine for 12 months after lung transplantation. Patients whose liver functions became abnormal during follow-up were tested for HBV serology and HBV-DNA.

RESULTS

Eleven of 120 lung transplant recipients (9.2%) were treated with prophylaxis lamivudine. Four recipients were hepatitis B surface antigen positive, and 7 recipients received organs from donors positive for HBc antibodies. Median follow-up after treatment was 24 months. All patients had normal alanine transaminase and undetectable levels of HBV-DNA before treatment. No side effects of lamivudine therapy were reported by any of the patients. Reactivation with alanine transaminase elevation and high HBV-DNA levels occurred in 2 patients. Both of them were recipients positive for hepatitis B surface antigen. In the first patient, lamivudine-resistant strain was detected and adefovir dipivoxil was started. In the other, reactivation developed 2 months after the end of lamivudine treatment. Lamivudine treatment was resumed, with rapid normalization of the HBV-DNA.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of lamivudine is considered safe for suppressing HBV infection after lung transplantation.

Donor or Recipient Hepatitis B Seropositivity Is Associated With Allograft Vasculopathy

BACKGROUND

Increasing interest has focused on possible viral triggers of cardiac allograft vasculopathy. Although much interest has centered on cytomegalovirus, it has recently been noted that donor hepatitis C seropositivity is associated with risk for accelerated vasculopathy. The current study hypothesized that hepatitis B (HBV) might be associated with accelerated vasculopathy.

METHODS

Sixty-six patients who received heart transplants between September 1998 and July 2000 were analyzed by intravascular ultrasound within 6 weeks and again at 12 months after transplantation. These patients were divided into 2 groups: the HBV Group (n = 13) in which either the donor or recipient was seropositive for hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb), and a Control Group (n = 53) in which neither donor nor recipient was positive for HBcAb.

RESULTS

Baseline characteristics of the 2 groups were similar. The HBV Group had significant increase in the change in average intimal area (1.59 +/- 1.4 vs 0.46 +/- 0.4 mm2, p = 0.01) per mm length of the vessel compared with controls. Allograft vasculopathy at 1 year (defined as largest maximal intimal thickness increase of > or =0.50 mm) occurred in 46% of the HBV group compared with 24% of the control group (p = 0.05). When measured as an average maximal intimal thickness increase of >0.30 mm, allograft vasculopathy at 1 year occurred in 31% of the HBV Group compared with 5% of Controls (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

These preliminary results suggest that HBV seropositivity in donor or recipient may be associated with an increased risk for cardiac allograft vasculopathy.