Use of Long-acting Injectable Antiretroviral Therapy in Kidney and Liver Transplant Recipients with HIV
Christine Durand, Sarah Hussain, Sabrina Kopf, Shikha Mehta, Navya Eleti, Meenakashi Rana, Valentina Stosor, Sander Florman, Jonathan Hand, Nathaniel ErdmannBackground:
The 2013 HIV Organ Policy Equity Act facilitated HIV-to-HIV organ transplants, enabling people with HIV to receive transplants more quickly. However, managing drug interactions between ART and immunosuppressive regimens remains a challenge.
Objective:
This study assesses the safety and effectiveness of cabotegravir/rilpivirine (CAB/RPV), an injectable ART, in maintaining HIV virologic suppression in kidney and liver transplant recipients.
Methods:
A retrospective review of three clinical studies evaluated CAB/RPV in transplant recipients with HIV. Participants had suppressed HIV RNA levels before transplant and were monitored post-transplant every six months.
Results:
Nine transplant recipients (7 kidney, 2 liver) received CAB/RPV. All maintained HIV suppression, with no allograft loss, although one liver recipient experienced acute rejection. One participant died from trauma unrelated to the transplant or HIV.
Conclusion:
CAB/RPV shows promise for HIV management after transplantation. Further research is needed using a larger cohort.