Provider Utilization of High-Risk Donor Organs and Nucleic Acid Testing: Results of Two National Surveys

Fears of infectious transmission from CDC high-risk donors (HRDs) remain a significant disincentive, and the potential for human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus (HIV/HCV) nucleic acid testing (NAT) to allay these fears remains unstudied. We hypothesized that NAT, which narrows the window period between infection and detectability compared to the standard ELISA, might lead to increased provider willingness to use HRDs. Between January and April 2008, we performed two national surveys: one of current NAT practice among organ procurement organizations (OPOs); a second of HRD use among transplant surgeons. Surgeons who reported accepting 10% or more offers for a given HRD behavior and organ type were classified as 'high utilizers' of that subgroup. We built hierarchical models to examine associations between OPO NAT performance and provider utilization. Providers who ranked medical risks of HIV or HCV as important disincentives to HRD use had significantly lower odds of being high utilizers (HIV odds ratio 0.22, HCV odds ratio 0.41, p < 0.005). Furthermore, both HIV and HCV NAT performance were associated with significantly higher odds of being high utilizers (HIV odds ratio 1.58, HCV 2.69, p < 0.005). The demonstrated associations between OPO NAT performance and high provider utilization of HRDs should be considered in the ongoing debate about NAT in transplantation.     

Formal Policies and Special Informed Consent Are Associated with Higher Provider Utilization of CDC High-Risk Donor Organs

A new United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) policy mandates special informed consent (SIC) before transplanting organs from donors classified by the Public Health Service/Center for Disease Control ( PHS/CDC) as high-risk donors (HRDs); however, concerns remain that this policy may cause suboptimal organ utilization. Currently, consent and disclosure policy is determined by individual centers or surgeons; as such, little is known about current practices. The goals of this study were to quantify consent and disclosure practices for HRDs in the United States, identify factors associated with SIC use and analyze associations between SIC use and HRD organ utilization. We surveyed 422 transplant surgeons about their use of HRD organs and their associated consent and disclosure practices. In total, 52.7% of surgeons use SIC, but there is a high variation in use within centers, between centers and by donor behavior. A defined HRD policy at a transplant center is strongly associated with SIC use at that center (OR = 4.68, p < 0.001 by multivariate hierarchical logistic regression). SIC use is associated with higher utilization of HRD livers (OR 3.37), and a trend toward higher utilization of HRD kidneys (OR 1.74) and pancreata (OR 1.28). We believe our findings support a formalized national policy and suggest that this policy will not result in decreased utilization.     

Optimal Testing of the Live Organ Donor for Blood‐Borne Viral Pathogens: The Report of a Consensus Conference

In 2011, live donor transmission events involving Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) prompted consideration of changing the process of live donor testing and evaluation in the United States. Following CDC recommendations for screening all live donors with nucleic acid testing for HIV, HCV and Hepatitis B (HBV), a consensus conference was convened to evaluate this recommendation. Workgroups focused on determining whether there was an evidence based rationale for identifying live donors at increased risk for HIV, HBV and HCV, testing options and timing for diagnosing these infections in potential donors and consent issues specific to potential increased risk donor utilization. Strategies for donor assessment were proposed. Based on review of the limited available evidence as well as guidance documents and policies currently in place in the United States and other countries, the conference participants recommended that HIV, HBV and HCV NAT should not be required for live donor evaluation; the optimal timing of live donor testing for these blood borne pathogens has not been determined.     

Utilization of Organs From Donors According to Hepatitis C Antibody and Nucleic Acid Testing Status: Time for Change

Previous studies have grouped all donors positive for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody (Ab). Only recently has donor HCV nucleic acid testing (NAT) become routine, and the impact of Ab and NAT status on organ utilization is unknown. Using the United Network for Organ Sharing database, we identified 9290 donors from 2015 to 2016 for whom both HCV Ab and NAT data were available and compared organ utilization by HCV status. Overall, 93.8% of donors were Ab negative and NAT negative (Ab?NAT?), 0.15% were Ab negative and NAT positive, 1.8% were Ab positive and NAT negative (Ab+NAT?), and 4.2% were both Ab and NAT positive (Ab+NAT+). Ab?NAT? donors donated at the highest rate for all organs except livers, of which Ab+NAT? donors donated at a higher rate (81.2% vs 73.2%, p = 0.03). Livers were discarded for reasons related to abnormal biopsies in Ab+NAT+ donors, whereas kidneys from Ab‐ or NAT‐positive donors were discarded for reasons related to HCV status. Using a propensity score?matched model, we estimated that using Ab+NAT? donors at the same rate as Ab?NAT? donors could result in 48 more kidney donors, 37 more heart donors, and 15 more lung donors annually. We urge the use of HCV Ab+NAT? donors for appropriately selected and consenting recipients.     

Efficient Utilization of the Expanded Criteria Donor (ECD) Deceased Donor Kidney Pool: An Analysis of the Effect of Labeling

We investigated the effect of the expanded criteria donor (ECD) label on (i) recovery of kidneys and (ii) acceptance for transplantation given recovery. An ECD is age ≥ 60, or age 50–59 with ≥ 2 of 3 specified comorbidities. Using data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients from 1999 to 2005, we modeled recovery rates through linear regression and transplantation probabilities via logistic regression, focusing on organs from donors just‐younger versus just‐older than the ECD age thresholds. We split the sample at July 1, 2002 to determine how decisions changed at the approximate time of implementation of the ECD definition. Before July 2002, the number of recovered kidneys with 0–1 comorbidities dropped at age 60, but transplantation probabilities given recovery did not. After July 2002, the number of recovered kidneys with 0–1 comorbidities rose at age 60, but transplantation probabilities contingent on recovery declined. No similar trends were observed at donor age 50 among donors with ≥ 2 comorbidities. Overall, implementation of the ECD definition coincided with a reversal of an apparent reluctance to recover kidneys from donors over age 59, but increased selectiveness on the part of surgeons/centers with respect to these kidneys.     

The Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI) of Marginal Donors Allocated by Standardized Pretransplant Donor Biopsy Assessment: Distribution and Association With Graft Outcomes

Pretransplant donor biopsy (PTDB)‐based marginal donor allocation systems to single or dual renal transplantation could increase the use of organs with Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI) in the highest range (e.g. >80 or >90), whose discard rate approximates 50% in the United States. To test this hypothesis, we retrospectively calculated the KDPI and analyzed the outcomes of 442 marginal kidney transplants (340 single transplants: 278 with a PTDB Remuzzi score <4 [median KDPI: 87; interquartile range (IQR): 78–94] and 62 with a score = 4 [median KDPI: 87; IQR: 76–93]; 102 dual transplants [median KDPI: 93; IQR: 86–96]) and 248 single standard transplant controls (median KDPI: 36; IQR: 18–51). PTDB‐based allocation of marginal grafts led to a limited discard rate of 15% for kidneys with KDPI of 80–90 and of 37% for kidneys with a KDPI of 91–100. Although 1‐year estimated GFRs were significantly lower in recipients of marginal kidneys (?9.3, ?17.9 and ?18.8 mL/min, for dual transplants, single kidneys with PTDB score <4 and =4, respectively; p < 0.001), graft survival (median follow‐up 3.3 years) was similar between marginal and standard kidney transplants (hazard ratio: 1.20 [95% confidence interval: 0.80–1.79; p = 0.38]). In conclusion, PTDB‐based allocation allows the safe transplantation of kidneys with KDPI in the highest range that may otherwise be discarded.

     

Missed opportunities for HIV testing among those who accessed sexually transmitted infection (STI) services,tested for STIs and diagnosed with STIs: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction

Of 37.7 million people living with HIV in 2020, 6.1 million still do not know their HIV status. We synthesize evidence on concurrent HIV testing among people who tested for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Methods

We conducted a systematic review using five databases, HIV conferences and clinical trial registries. We included publications between 2010 and May 2021 that reported primary data on concurrent HIV/STI testing. We conducted a random-effects meta-analysis and meta-regression of the pooled proportion for concurrent HIV/STI testing.

Results

We identified 96 eligible studies. Among those, 49 studies had relevant data for a meta-analysis. The remaining studies provided data on the acceptability, feasibility, barriers, facilitators, economic evaluation and social harms of concurrent HIV/STI testing. The pooled proportion of people tested for HIV among those attending an STI service (n = 18 studies) was 71.0% (95% confidence intervals: 61.0–80.1, I² = 99.9%), people tested for HIV among those who were tested for STIs (n = 15) was 61.3% (53.9–68.4, I² = 99.9%), people tested for HIV among those who were diagnosed with an STI (n = 13) was 35.3% (27.1–43.9, I² = 99.9%) and people tested for HIV among those presenting with STI symptoms (n = 3) was 27.1% (20.5–34.3, I² = 92.0%). The meta-regression analysis found that heterogeneity was driven mainly by identity as a sexual and gender minority, the latest year of study, country-income level and region of the world.

Discussion

This review found poor concurrent HIV/STI testing among those already diagnosed with an STI (35.3%) or who had symptoms with STIs (27.1%). Additionally, concurrent HIV/STI testing among those tested for STIs varied significantly according to the testing location, country income level and region of the world. A few potential reasons for these observations include differences in national STI-related policies, lack of standard operation procedures, clinician-level factors, poor awareness and adherence to HIV indicator condition-guided HIV testing and stigma associated with HIV compared to other curable STIs.

Conclusions

Not testing for HIV among people using STI services presents a significant missed opportunity, particularly among those diagnosed with an STI. Stronger integration of HIV and STI services is urgently needed to improve prevention, early diagnosis and linkage to care services.     

Psychological Outcomes of Living Liver Donors From a Multicenter Prospective Study: Results From the Adult‐to‐Adult Living Donor Liver Transplantation Cohort Study2 (A2ALL‐2)

Although single‐center and cross‐sectional studies have suggested a modest impact of liver donation on donor psychological well‐being, few studies have assessed these outcomes prospectively among a large cohort. We conducted one of the largest, prospective, multicenter studies of psychological outcomes in living liver donors within the Adult‐to‐Adult Living Donor Liver Transplantation Cohort Study2 (A2ALL‐2) consortium. In total, 271 (91%) of 297 eligible donors were interviewed at least once before donation and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 mo after donation using validated measures. We found that living liver donors reported low rates of major depressive (0–3%), alcohol abuse (2–5%), and anxiety syndromes (2–3%) at any given assessment in their first 2 years after donation. Between 4.7% and 9.6% of donors reported impaired mental well‐being at various time points. We identified significant predictors for donors’ perceptions of being better people and experiencing psychological growth following donation, including age, sex, relationship to recipient, ambivalence and motivation regarding donation, and feeling that donation would make life more worthwhile. Our results highlight the need for close psychosocial monitoring for those donors whose recipients died (n=27); some of those donors experienced guilt and concerns about responsibility. Careful screening and targeted, data‐driven follow‐up hold promise for optimizing psychological outcomes following this procedure for potentially vulnerable donors.     

Convergent and Discriminant Validity of the Perinatal PTSD Questionnaire (PPQ): A Preliminary Study

We evaluated the validity of the Perinatal Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Questionnaire (PPQ) as a measure of posttraumatic stress symptomatology. Mothers of high-risk infants (N = 91) and healthy, full-term infants (N = 51) answered the PPQ and two other convergent measures of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, the Impact of Event Scale (IES) and the Penn Inventory (PI). The Need for Cognition Scale (NCS) was used as a divergent measure. Correlations among the convergent measures were significantly greater than the correlation between the PPQ and NCS. High-risk mothers also scored higher than normal mothers on the PPQ and IES. The results support the validity of the PPQ.     

腹腔镜下供睾切取术及亲属活体供睾移植二例报告

目的 总结腹腔镜下活体供睾切取及睾丸移植的体会.方法 2例患者因外伤导致双侧睾丸丧失,其血清睾酮水平分别为1.94和1.39 nmol/L,均出现第二性征减退或改变的症状.2名供者分别是受者的父亲和哥哥,均身体健康,彩色超声波检查提示睾丸大小、形态及血流均正常,在腹腔镜下切取右侧睾丸.2例供者手术时间分别为29和24 min,术中出血分别为15和18 ml,供睾热缺血时间分别为90和70 s.睾丸移植时,先将供睾静脉与受者的腹壁下静脉吻合,再将供睾动脉与受者的腹壁下动脉吻合,然后将供、受者的输精管行端端吻合,最后用手指伸入腹股沟斜切口向下扩张阴囊,并将移植睾丸推入阴囊内.术后对供、受者进行随访,观察供、受者术后情况.结果 2例受者均成功接受睾丸移植,术后恢复良好,复查血清睾酮较前明显升高,分别为12.8和14.2 nmol/L,有排精现象,但精液中无精子;术后3个月,彩色超声波检查显示移植睾丸血液供应良好,大小和形态正常.2名供者术后切口疼痛轻微,未使用止痛药,术后第1天可进食,第2天胃肠功能恢复正常,并可下床活动,第3天拔除引流管,第7天拆线出院,供者于术后1个月恢复正常生活和工作.随访期间,供者均未诉特殊不适,未发生并发症.结论 利用腹腔镜切取活体供睾安全可行,对供者创伤小,术后恢复快,对移植睾丸的功能无明显负面影响;成功的睾丸移植可改善患者的第二性征,提高血清睾酮水平.     

Social and Financial Outcomes of Living Liver Donation: A Prospective Investigation Within the Adult‐to‐Adult Living Donor Liver Transplantation Cohort Study 2 (A2ALL‐2)

Because results from single‐center (mostly kidney) donor studies demonstrate interpersonal relationship and financial strains for some donors, we conducted a liver donor study involving nine centers within the Adult‐to‐Adult Living Donor Liver Transplantation Cohort Study 2 (A2ALL‐2) consortium. Among other initiatives, A2ALL‐2 examined the nature of these outcomes following donation. Using validated measures, donors were prospectively surveyed before donation and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 mo after donation. Repeated‐measures regression models were used to examine social relationship and financial outcomes over time and to identify relevant predictors. Of 297 eligible donors, 271 (91%) consented and were interviewed at least once. Relationship changes were positive overall across postdonation time points, with nearly one‐third reporting improved donor family and spousal or partner relationships and >50% reporting improved recipient relationships. The majority of donors, however, reported cumulative out‐of‐pocket medical and nonmedical expenses, which were judged burdensome by 44% of donors. Lower income predicted burdensome donation costs. Those who anticipated financial concerns and who held nonprofessional positions before donation were more likely to experience adverse financial outcomes. These data support the need for initiatives to reduce financial burden.     

Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System (MARS) in Patients with Primary Nonfunction and Other Causes of Graft Dysfunction After Liver Transplantation in the Era of Extended Criteria Donor Organs

Liver dysfunction is an important cause of morbidity and mortality after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System (MARS) is an albumin-based dialysis system designed to enhance the excretory function of a failing liver. MARS has been successfully used in patients affected by advanced liver disease and presenting with severe cholestasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of MARS in patients with liver dysfunction after OLT. Seven patients (primary nonfunction, 2 patients; graft dysfunction, 5 patients) fulfilled the inclusion criteria of serum bilirubin level >15 mg/dL and least 1 of the following clinical signs: hepatic encephalopathy (HE) ≥grade II, hepatorenal syndrome (HRS), and intractable pruritus. Graft and patient survival rates at 6 months were 42.8% and 57.1%, respectively. All patients tolerated MARS treatment, with no adverse event. In all patients, a decrease in serum bilirubin (P < .05), bile acids (P < .05), serum creatinine, and ammonia levels was observed after treatment with MARS. A considerable improvement of HE, as well as renal and synthetic liver functions, was observed in 4 of 5 patients with graft dysfunction, but not among those with primary nonfunction. The patients with intractable pruritus showed significant improvement of this symptom after MARS therapy. Thus, MARS is a safe, therapeutic option for the treatment of liver dysfunction after OLT. Further studies are necessary to confirm whether this treatment is able to improve both graft and patient survival.     

The problem of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and transplantation

The problem of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and that of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are becoming increasingly important in clinical transplantation. The epidemiologic characteristics of this infection are important factors in determining the impact of this infection on transplant patients: in particular, the presence of a transmissible virus in the blood, tissues, and body fluids of even asymptomatic individuals for prolonged periods; the role of lymphocyte activation in accelerating the pace and effects of HIV infection, with the transplant patient having more reasons for lymphocyte activation than other patient categories; and the possible contributions of immunosuppressive therapy to the course of HIV infection. Already, at least 20 cases of primary HIV infection conveyed by infected blood or allografts at the time of transplant have been noted; a similar number of transplants have been carried out in asymptomatic carriers of the virus. The initial impression is that the course of HIV infection in these patients is accelerated, but information is incomplete and an international registry for the study of this problem has been established.In cooperation with the Registry for the Study of AIDS in Transplantation     

肝门部胆管癌中乙肝、丙肝病毒感染与p53异常表达的关系及意义

目的 探讨乙肝病毒，丙肝病毒感染在肝门部胆管癌发病中的作用及与p53异常表达的关系。方法 采用免疫组织化学方法对68例石蜡包埋肝门部胆管癌标本中的HBV－X，HCV－C和p53蛋白进行检测，并结合临床资料进行分析。结果 68例肝门部胆管癌中乙肝病毒X蛋白阳性率为8．8％（6／68），丙肝病毒C蛋白阳性率为35％（24／68），两者均阳性1例（1．5％）；p53蛋白阳性率为45．6％（31／68）。乙肝，丙肝病毒感染的肝门部胆管癌在分化和浸润程度，淋巴结转移，根治程度与非病毒感染的肝门部胆管癌有明显差异，p53与乙肝病毒X，丙肝病毒C蛋白表达呈显著的正相关（P＜0．001）。结论 乙肝，丙肝病毒感染与肝门部胆管癌发生有关。乙肝，丙肝病毒感染的肝门部胆管癌恶性程度高，可能有较差的预后。HBV－X，HCV－C蛋白可能在HBV，HCV感染肝门部胆管癌的病因中起重要作用，p53蛋白在肝门部胆管癌中的异常表达与HBV，HCV感染有关。