Centenary of the UCT Faculty of Health Sciences
Renal transplantation between HIV-positive donors and recipients justified
Elmi Muller, Zunaid Barday, Marc Mendelson, Delawir Kahn
Abstract
HIV infection was previously an absolute contraindication to renal transplantation. However, with the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), renal transplantation using HIV-negative donor kidneys has successfully been employed for HIV-infected patients with end-stage renal failure. In resource-limited countries, places on dialysis programmes are severely restricted; HIV-infected patients, like many others with co-morbidity, are often denied treatment. Kidneys (and other organs) from HIV-infected deceased donors are discarded. The transplantation of HIV-positive donor kidneys to HIV-infected recipients is now a viable alternative to chronic dialysis or transplantation of HIV-negative donor kidneys. This significantly increases the pool of donor kidneys to the advantage of HIV-positive and -negative patients. Arguments are presented that led to our initiation of renal transplantation from HIV-positive deceased donors to HIV-positive recipients at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town.
Authors' affiliations
Elmi Muller, Department of Surgery, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town
Zunaid Barday, Department of Surgery, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town
Marc Mendelson, Department of Surgery, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town
Delawir Kahn, Department of Surgery, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town
Keywords
HIV; Renal Transplantation
Cite this article
South African Medical Journal 2012;102(6):497-498.
Article History
Date submitted: 2012-02-20
Date published: 2012-03-02
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