title: Seropositive abdominal and thoracic donor organs are largely underutilized.
abstract: The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology and utilization of anti-hepatitis B core protein(+) and anti-hepatitis C virus(+) organ donor referrals in a large organ procurement organization. Between 1995 and 2006, 3,134 deceased organ donor referrals were tested for anti-HBc and anti-HCV using commercial assays. The prevalence of anti-HCV(+) organ donor referrals significantly increased from 3.4% in 1994-1996 to 8.1% in 2003-2005 (P < .001), whereas the prevalence of anti-HBc(+) organ donor referrals remained unchanged at 3%-4% (P = .20). The 112 anti-HBc(+) (3.5%) and 173 anti-HCV(+) (5.5%) organ donor referrals were significantly older and more likely to be noncaucasian than seronegative organ donor referrals (P < .02). The procurement and utilization rates of seropositive thoracic and abdominal donor organs were significantly lower compared with seronegative organ donors (P < .0001). However, liver utilization rates significantly increased from anti-HBc(+) donors over time (21% vs 46%; P = .026), whereas utilization of anti-HCV(+) liver donors remained unchanged over time (5% vs 18%; P = .303). In summary, the proportion of anti-HCV(+) organ donor referrals has significantly increased and the proportion of anti-HBc(+) organ donor referrals has remained stable. Both thoracic and abdominal organs from seropositive donors are largely underutilized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. rtaylor2@kumc.edu
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Pietroski
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hagan
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Eisenbrey
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Fontana
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D015658:HIV Infections; D006509:Hepatitis B; D006526:Hepatitis C; D006801:Humans; D013909:Thorax; D014019:Tissue Donors