Background According to the current guidelines for liver transplantation (LT) of brain-dead donors with hepatitis B or C virus (HBV or HCV) in Korea, grafts from hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)(+) or HCV antibody (anti-HCV)(+) donors must be transplanted only to HBsAg(+) or anti-HCV(+) recipients, respectively. We aimed to determine the current status and outcomes of brain-dead donor LT with HBV or HCV in Korea. Material/Methods This retrospective observational study included all LTs from brain-dead donors in the Korean Organ Transplantation Registry between April 2014 and December 2020. According to donor hepatitis status, 24 HBV(+), 1 HCV(+), and 1010 HBV(−)/HCV(−) donors were included. Results Baseline/final model for end-stage liver disease score (MELD) for HBV(+), HCV(+), and HBV(−)/HCV(−) were 22.4±9.3/27.8±7.8, 16/11, and 33.0±15.4/35.5±7.1, respectively. MELD score of HBV (+) were lower than those of HBV(−)/HCV(−) ( P <0.01). Five-year graft and patient survival rates of HBV(+) and HBV(−)/HCV(−) recipients were 81.7%/85.6%, and 76.6%/76.7%, respectively ( P =0.73 and P =0.038). One-year graft and patient survival rates of HCV (+) graft recipients were both 100%. Conclusions No differences in graft and patient survival rates between HBV(+) and HBV(−)/HCV(−) groups were observed. Although accumulating the results of transplants from HBV (+) or HCV(+) grafts to HBV(−) or HCV(−) recipients is not possible owing to domestic regulations, Korea should conditionally permit transplantations from HBV(+) or HCV(+) grafts to HBV(−) or HCV(−) recipients by considering the risks and benefits based on foreign studies. Thereafter, we can accumulate the data from Korea and analyze the outcomes.
【저자키워드】 Liver transplantation, hepatitis C, hepatitis B, Brain death, Tissue donors,