HIV-Positive Organ Donation as Standard of Care in Transplantation

This editorial reflects on the historical, ethical, and clinical evolution of HIV-positive organ donation, culminating in its recognition as standard of care. Elmi Muller recounts the trajectory from early stigma and legal prohibitions to groundbreaking transplants in South Africa and the U.S. The piece highlights the pivotal role of the HOPE Act (2013), which enabled experimental HIV-positive-to-HIV-positive transplants in the U.S., and the recent multicenter study by Durand et al. demonstrating equivalent outcomes between HIV-positive recipients of HIV-positive and HIV-negative donor kidneys. The editorial emphasizes that concerns about viral strain introduction and graft rejection have been mitigated by modern antiretroviral and immunosuppressive therapies. It calls for global adoption of HIV-positive organ donation to expand access, reduce inequities, and affirm the dignity of persons living with HIV

This editorial reflects on the historical, ethical, and clinical evolution of HIV-positive organ donation, culminating in its recognition as standard of care. Elmi Muller recounts the trajectory from early stigma and legal prohibitions to groundbreaking transplants in South Africa and the U.S. The piece highlights the pivotal role of the HOPE Act (2013), which enabled experimental HIV-positive-to-HIV-positive transplants in the U.S., and the recent multicenter study by Durand et al. demonstrating equivalent outcomes between HIV-positive recipients of HIV-positive and HIV-negative donor kidneys. The editorial emphasizes that concerns about viral strain introduction and graft rejection have been mitigated by modern antiretroviral and immunosuppressive therapies. It calls for global adoption of HIV-positive organ donation to expand access, reduce inequities, and affirm the dignity of persons living with HIV