Temporal trends and outcomes in liver transplantation for recipients with HIV infection in Europe and United States

Background. We evaluated trends and outcomes of liver transplantation (LT) recipients with/without HIV infection. Methods. LT recipients between 2008 and 2015 from the United Network for Organ Sharing and Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network and European Liver Transplant Registry were included. Trends and characteristics related to survival among LT recipients with HIV infection were determined. Results. Among 73 206 LT patients, 658 (0.9%) were HIV-infected. The proportion of LT HIV-infected did not change over time (P-trend = 0.16). Hepatitis C virus (HCV) as indication for LT decreased significantly for HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected patients (P-trends = 0.008 and <0.001). Three-year cumulative graft survival in LT recipients with and without HIV infection was 64.4% and 77.3%, respectively (P < 0.001), with improvements over time for both, but with HIV-infected patients having greater improvements (P-trends = 0.02 and 0.03). Adjusted risk of graft loss was 41% higher in HIV-infected versus HIV-uninfected (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.41; P < 0.001). Among HIV-infected, model of end-stage liver disease (aHR, 1.04; P < 0.001), body mass index <21 kg/m2(aHR, 1.61; P = 0.006), and HCV (aHR, 1.83; P < 0.001) were associated with graft loss, whereas more recent period of LT 2012-2015 (aHR, 0.58; P = 0.001) and donor with anoxic cause of death (aHR, 0.51; P = 0.007) were associated with lower risk of graft loss. Conclusions. Patients with HIV infection account for only 1% of LTs in United States and Europe, with fewer LT for HCV disease over time. A static rate of LT among HIV-infected patients may reflect improvements in cirrhosis management and/or persistent barriers to LT. Graft and patient survival among HIV-infected LT recipients have shown improvement over time.