David S. Goldberg, MD, and Peter Reese, MD, are studying kidneys from deceased donors who were infected with Hepatitis C. At present, those with Hepatitis C are only eligible to donate organs to others with the infection, to reduce risk of spreading the virus. However, Drs. Goldberg and Reese are investigating whether Hepatitis C-infected kidneys may be safely transplanted into patients who do not have Hepatitis C.
Here’s what you need to know about the clinical trial:
1. The researchers identified donated kidneys that were infected with a certain strain of the Hepatitis C virus. These kidneys underwent a viral treatment, which has a 95 percent success rate in eradicating this strain of Hepatitis C.
2. The researchers plan to transplant and treat 10 patients in this clinical trial. After a participant receives a Hepatitis C-infected kidney, he or she is treated with an oral Hepatitis C medication.
3. The first participant received a kidney transplant in July 2016. Her physicians recently announced that there is no evidence of the virus in her blood.
4. Drs. Goldberg and Reese estimate that if Hepatitis C-infected kidneys can safely enter the organ donation market, at least 500 more kidneys could become available each year.
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