Beyond the HIV Organ Policy Equity Act: Roadmap to expanding kidney and liver transplants for people with human immunodeficiency virus utilizing grafts from donors with human immunodeficiency virus

Abstract

People living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PWH) face limited access to organ transplantation despite higher rates of end-organ disease. The HIV Organ Policy Equity Act, enacted in 2015, allowed transplants from donors with HIV to recipients with HIV (HIV D+/R+) under research protocols. Studies have since demonstrated overall comparable outcomes between HIV D+/R+ and donors without HIV/R+ transplants, leading to the removal of the research requirement for HIV D+/R+ kidney and liver transplants in November 2024. However, some remaining medical concerns and systemic barriers still need to be addressed, especially for centers that did not participate in the HIV Organ Policy Equity Act. This manuscript reviewed the history, evidence, and key considerations for HIV D+/R+ kidney and liver transplants. Furthermore, a roadmap for implementation, emphasizing the need for reviewing local regulations, establishing multidisciplinary teams, developing personalized protocols, providing medical and cultural training, engaging organ procurement organizations and the local PWH community, and continuing data collection and quality improvement, is discussed. The removal of research restrictions offers a critical opportunity to reduce disparities in transplant access for PWH. Transplant providers should embrace this opportunity to expand access while continuing to address the remaining medical and systemic challenges to ensure that more PWHs receive life-saving transplants.

Keywords: HIV; HIV Organ Policy Equity Act; donors with HIV; health equity; kidney transplant; liver transplant; recipients with HIV.