Comparing outcomes of donation after cardiac death versus donation after brain death in liver transplant recipients with hepatitis C: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND:

Liver transplantation (LT) using organs donated after cardiac death (DCD) is increasing due, in large part, to a shortage of organs. The outcome of using DCD organs in recipients with hepatits C virus (HCV) infection remains unclear due to the limited experience and number of publications addressing this issue.

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the clinical outcomes of DCD versus donation after brain death (DBD) in HCV-positive patients undergoing LT.

METHODS:

Studies comparing DCD versus DBD LT in HCV-positive patients were identified based on systematic searches of seven electronic databases and multiple sources of gray literature.

RESULTS:

The search identified 58 citations, including three studies, with 324 patients meeting eligibility criteria. The use of DCD livers was associated with a significantly higher risk of primary nonfunction (RR 5.49 95% CI 1.53 to 19.64]; P=0.009; I²=0%), while not associated with a significantly different patient survival (RR 0.89 95% CI 0.37 to 2.11]; P=0.79; I²=51%), graft survival (RR 0.40 95% CI 0.14 to 1.11]; P=0.08; I²=34%), rate of recurrence of severe HCV infection (RR 2.74 95% CI 0.36 to 20.92]; P=0.33; I²=84%), retransplantation or liver disease-related death (RR 1.79 95% CI 0.66 to 4.84]; P=0.25; I²=44%), and biliary complications.

CONCLUSIONS:

While the literature and quality of studies assessing DCD versus DBD grafts are limited, there was significantly more primary nonfunction and a trend toward decreased graft survival, but no significant difference in biliary complications or recipient mortality rates between DCD and DBD LT in patients with HCV infection. There is insufficient literature on the topic to draw any definitive conclusions.