Use of Hep C infected Organs

[Arms-1]

Hiya partner nrly on transplant list last call on Monday from consultant for consent. Co- ordinators have asked him to read up about receiving a liver with hep C/B has any members got advice or had transplant with this? Thanks

[DavyGravy]

Hi Arms

I was diagnosed with Hep C. I have just finished a 12 week course of tablets yesterday. but my bloods after 8 weeks showed my hep c was undetectable, there may have been a tiny trace which the remaining tablets will have cleared completely. In most cases Hep c is gone after 4 weeks. The latest Hep C meds are amazing, the only side effect I had was ocassionally I felt a little cold.

Now I am Hep C free, my liver will quickly get back to 100% healthy by following a healthy lifestyle.

Hep C existed before but was discovered around 30 years ago, it can lie in a dormant state for decades. I have probably been living with it unaffected for almost 50 years before it became active and luckily my doctor found it and 3 months of tablets cured it. Hep C is being carried by millions of people undiagnosed, it might not become a problem for them but in this country, the NHS are proactively trying to find them and cure them before it can do harm. So it is a major problem because of the number of carriers but, it is a simple remedy now we have the current antivirals.

I hope this will help in any decision you make. Wishing you both well

Dave

[Arms-1 in reply to DavyGravy]

Thankyou Dave I have looked at your posts before re; hep C so glad for you that you are now clear and getting back to good health 🤗 you always give good advice thanks .. keep being well

[DavyGravy in reply to Arms-1]

Thank you Arms that is very kind.

You both have an incredibly important decision to make. I have no idea whether accepting a hep c liver will move your partner up the transplant list or not. You also have to weigh the pros and cons of the decision based on your partners current health, time on the transplant list waiting and whether to acccept a liver with a treatable virus vs a clean liver.

There are a lot of factors to consider and a tough decision to make and it is a decision in which, you both need to be involved. The virus may be dormant in the liver or it may have some fibrosis (I do not know what criteria exists regarding the viability of organs suitable for transplant) it is something worth asking the consultant. Also hep C elevates the results of fibroscans because it is a virus and causes inflammation so as soon as the treatment starts to work it will see a quick improvement simply because the inflammation will subside.

Whatever you decide will be the right decision.

Dave

[AyrshireK]

Just because someone has Heptatitis C it doesn't actually mean they have yet sustained any liver damage so they may have a perfectly viable/transplantable liver BUT obviously they are carrying the virus at time of death. Hep C is completely curable now so what would probably happen is yes you may end up with Hep C through the transplanted liver but with the new meds they can cure it and you can go on to live a long and happy life.

They are now transplanting more of what would in the past have been sub-optimal organs but with new advances they can improve these organs and with some many people waiting for a liver they have to widen the donor pool - a tiny percentage of people die in circumstances where their organs can be used and sadly many more people are living with things like fatty liver that they don't know about so often when the organ is retrieved it can be too far damaged.

It's I guess a risk but often a Hep C liver with no obvious damage will be far better than the cirrhotic one that needs replacing. Not everyone will be willing to take the risk but if your partner is and such organ comes on offer then he'd be higher up the list for that particular liver.

Not sure about Hep B though as it is treatable but not curable so that would be another dilemma to ponder.

Best wishes to you and your partner, hope he gets his gift soon.

Katie

[Arms-1 in reply to AyrshireK]

Thanks Katie, I know if it was me I would say yes! Good to hear others thoughts and knowledge... Wishing you and husband good thoughts, hope he keeps well.

[Geordiemac in reply to AyrshireK]

I was infected Hep B pre transplant and never knew as it must have been a very mild case. As soon as I was transplanted .I was administered as a Hep B "blocker" prophylactic medication called Lamiivudine which I take daily for the rest of my life (Hep B is especially nasty at reccuring after liver transplant). When tested for Hep B now my results are always negative. The wonders of science eh 😃.

[Roy1955]

If my car was Totaly knackered and undrivable and someone offered me a usable car that was just a little bit knackered I would jump at the chance.

Swap the word car for liver and there's your answer!