Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) urges everyone living with HIV to consider becoming an organ donor and register on the NHS Organ Donor Register.
It has recently been reported that a small number of people with HIV in the UK have helped benefit patients living with HIV after their deaths by donating their organs.
Organ transplants from donors with HIV to recipients living with the long-term health condition are now possible thanks to the improvements in the management and treatment of HIV.
As with any organ transplant, NHS Blood and Transplant carefully evaluates potential donors and surgeons use this information to weigh up whether or not to accept offered organs for their patient.
It is important that organs donated can be safely used and will not cause harm to the recipient. For someone with HIV to become an organ donor their condition needs to have been responding well to treatment and there should not be evidence of secondary complications of the condition.
In total, donations from three HIV positive solid organ donors in the UK have led to organ transplants, all within the last five years. Two of them donated their liver and these were both transplanted. The other donor donated two kidneys and both were transplanted.
Ian Green, Chief Executive at THT said: “The fact that there have been successful HIV positive organ donations resulting in organ transplants here in the UK is pioneering.
“Some illnesses are seen more frequently in people living with HIV than in the general population, including liver disease caused by hepatitis viruses B or C, and these can result in the need for a transplant. People with HIV in need of an organ transplant can benefit enormously from a donated organ.
“For some time patients with HIV have benefitted from donated organs from donors without HIV. If people living with HIV can receive organs from donors who also had HIV, there is potential benefit for everyone.
“The imperative now, is making sure that people living with HIV realise that their organs can be used after they die. We would encourage people to consider donating their organs, and ensure they share the decision with their families.”
Professor John Forsythe, Associate Medical Director for Organ Donation and Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant said: “It’s exciting that some people with HIV in the UK have helped benefit patients with HIV after their death by donating their organs.
“In the UK there is a shortage of organ donors and on average three people a day die in need of an organ transplant. While organ transplants from donors with HIV are limited to recipients with HIV infection, innovations like this open up the possibility of donation where it did not previously exist and will help to reduce the shortage of donor organs. We hope the news that there have been a small number of transplants in the UK from donors with HIV will inspire people living with the condition to join the NHS Organ Donor Register.”
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