Note specifically from the outset this is not currently the cure for the disease since it's only been tested on ten subjects. However, it worked on all of them for curing Hepatitis C ... but pay close attention to where the disease was cured since it was not in the people who carried it. (Science Daily: A transplant and a cure: Research team eradicates hepatitis C in 10 patients following lifesaving transplants from infected donors)
Ten patients have been cured of the Hepatitis C virus following lifesaving kidney transplants from deceased donors who were infected with the disease. (Stock image)
Credit: © 7activestudio / Fotolia
In 2016, Penn Medicine launched an innovative clinical trial to test the effect of transplanting kidneys from donors with HCV into patients currently on the kidney transplant waitlist who do not have the virus, and who opt in to receive these otherwise unused organs. Recipients were then treated with an antiviral therapy in an effort to cure the virus. Early data from the study were presented today by David S. Goldberg, MD, MSCE, an assistant professor of Medicine and Epidemiology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, at the 2017 American Transplant Congress in Chicago, and were simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
- SD
A primary driver behind the research has been the heartbreaking shortage of donor organs anywhere.
"We started this trial in the hopes that, if successful, we could open up an entirely new pool of donor organs, and effectively transplant hundreds, if not thousands, more patients who are awaiting a lifesaving organ," Goldberg said. "Historically, Hepatitis C-infected kidneys were often discarded, and were thought to be damaged or too 'high-risk.' Our pilot data demonstrate the ability to cure the contracted virus following transplantation in this patient population. If future studies are successful, this may be a viable option for patients who may otherwise never see a transplant."
- SD
Hopefully you see the distinction in cures insofar as the approach they're using cures Hepatitis C in the affected kidney but does not cure it in the original donor who is at that time an ex-patient. The news is tremendously good for those who need a kidney but it's not so toe-tappin' good for those afflicted by the disease.
The medical benefit from this research is tremendous.
"For so long, HCV was a virus with a very negative stigma associated with it, especially among physicians. So it was interesting to see that patients were quick to jump at the chance to get this transplant, despite the possibility that they could get Hepatitis C permanently," Reese said. "Going into the study, we knew it was a possibility that some or all of the patients would contract HCV, and that they could have the disease for the rest of their lives if we were unsuccessful. But for these patients, getting off of dialysis and getting back to their normal lives was very much worth the risk."
- SD
Hepatitis C looks like a 'dirty disease' to many of us since it's so strongly associated with drug addicts using dirty needles. However, the approach taken in this research means not only can kidneys from Hepatitis C-afflicted donors be used safely in non-afflicted patients but possibly this extends to other organs as well such as hearts and lungs which also are in critically short supply as donor organs.
Ten patients have been cured of the Hepatitis C virus following lifesaving kidney transplants from deceased donors who were infected with the disease. (Stock image)
Credit: © 7activestudio / Fotolia
In 2016, Penn Medicine launched an innovative clinical trial to test the effect of transplanting kidneys from donors with HCV into patients currently on the kidney transplant waitlist who do not have the virus, and who opt in to receive these otherwise unused organs. Recipients were then treated with an antiviral therapy in an effort to cure the virus. Early data from the study were presented today by David S. Goldberg, MD, MSCE, an assistant professor of Medicine and Epidemiology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, at the 2017 American Transplant Congress in Chicago, and were simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
- SD
A primary driver behind the research has been the heartbreaking shortage of donor organs anywhere.
"We started this trial in the hopes that, if successful, we could open up an entirely new pool of donor organs, and effectively transplant hundreds, if not thousands, more patients who are awaiting a lifesaving organ," Goldberg said. "Historically, Hepatitis C-infected kidneys were often discarded, and were thought to be damaged or too 'high-risk.' Our pilot data demonstrate the ability to cure the contracted virus following transplantation in this patient population. If future studies are successful, this may be a viable option for patients who may otherwise never see a transplant."
- SD
Hopefully you see the distinction in cures insofar as the approach they're using cures Hepatitis C in the affected kidney but does not cure it in the original donor who is at that time an ex-patient. The news is tremendously good for those who need a kidney but it's not so toe-tappin' good for those afflicted by the disease.
The medical benefit from this research is tremendous.
"For so long, HCV was a virus with a very negative stigma associated with it, especially among physicians. So it was interesting to see that patients were quick to jump at the chance to get this transplant, despite the possibility that they could get Hepatitis C permanently," Reese said. "Going into the study, we knew it was a possibility that some or all of the patients would contract HCV, and that they could have the disease for the rest of their lives if we were unsuccessful. But for these patients, getting off of dialysis and getting back to their normal lives was very much worth the risk."
- SD
Hepatitis C looks like a 'dirty disease' to many of us since it's so strongly associated with drug addicts using dirty needles. However, the approach taken in this research means not only can kidneys from Hepatitis C-afflicted donors be used safely in non-afflicted patients but possibly this extends to other organs as well such as hearts and lungs which also are in critically short supply as donor organs.
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