Kidney Donation for HIV

Not currently recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Christine Durand, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University

Disqualifiers: Hypertension, Diabetes, Hepatitis C, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether individuals with HIV can safely donate a kidney to others who also have HIV. The goal is to determine if living kidney donations between HIV-positive individuals can be successful and safe. The trial seeks potential kidney donors with stable health markers who have HIV but do not have conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes. This trial may suit someone living with HIV who has managed their health well and wishes to help another person with the virus. As an unphased trial, it offers participants a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research that could expand organ donation options for HIV-positive individuals.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that living donor kidney donation is safe for HIV+ recipients?

Research shows that donating a kidney is generally safe, though some risks exist. Studies indicate that less than 1% of living donors experience kidney failure after donating, meaning the chance of serious kidney problems is low.

A study from Japan found that five years after donation, about 98.2% of living donors were still alive, suggesting that kidney donation does not significantly affect lifespan. However, there is a small increase in the risk of kidney failure compared to non-donors.

Considering these risks is important before deciding to donate a kidney. Discussing options with a healthcare provider can help in making an informed choice. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about using HIV-positive living donor kidneys for HIV-positive recipients because it opens up a new pool of organ donors. Traditionally, organ transplants for HIV-positive patients have relied on deceased donors, which limits availability and increases wait times. By allowing HIV-positive individuals to donate kidneys to each other, this approach could significantly reduce the waiting list and improve outcomes for those living with HIV. This method also challenges previous medical boundaries, proving that HIV-positive individuals can safely donate organs, which is a significant step forward in transplant medicine.

What evidence suggests that living donor kidney donation is effective for HIV+ recipients?

Studies have shown that people who receive kidneys from living donors generally experience better outcomes than those who receive kidneys from deceased donors. The transplanted kidney tends to function better and last longer. Research also indicates that donating a kidney is safe for the donor, with a high survival rate of 98.2% five years after donation. Although some risks exist for donors, such as developing high blood pressure or diabetes, these are uncommon. Overall, living donor kidney transplants are considered effective and beneficial for recipients. ^{4 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Christine Durand, MD

Principal Investigator

Johns Hopkins University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

Inclusion Criteria

Able to understand and provide consent

Age 21 years or older

Meets standard clinical criteria for living donation per Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Comprehensive Transplant Center Policy

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Donor Nephrectomy

HIV+ individuals undergo nephrectomy to donate kidneys to HIV+ recipients

1 year

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety, including adverse events, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and HIV-related complications

4 years

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Living Donor Kidney Donation

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Johns Hopkins University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,366

Recruited

15,160,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4089229/

Living Kidney Donation: The Outcomes for Donors - PMC It has been documented that recipients of living donor kidneys have a better graft survival than recipients of deceased donor kidneys. This is true for living ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468024924033849

Outcomes of Living Kidney Donors Following ... In a Japanese study, the observed survival in living donors were 98.2%, and the expected survival was 97% at 5 years after donation. Our study demonstrates that ...

3. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2730470

Assessment of Postdonation Outcomes in US Living ... Overall, 1406 living donors (14.7%) had postdonation events; the 4 most common events were hypertension, diabetes, proteinuria, and postoperative ileus.

4. journals.lww.com journals.lww.com/transplantjournal/fulltext/2025/02000/living_kidney_donation__a_narrative_review_of_mid_.15.aspx

Living Kidney Donation: A Narrative Review of Mid Donation-specific psychosocial outcomes include regret, satisfaction, feelings of abandonment and unmet needs, and benefits of living kidney donation.

5. thelancet.com thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(14)62484-3/abstract

Living kidney donation: outcomes, ethics, and uncertainty Living kidney donation is associated with an increased risk of end-stage renal disease, although this outcome is uncommon (<0·5% increase in incidence at 15 ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4447489/

Risks and Outcomes of Living Donation - PMC In 2006, complications data were more than 50% incomplete at one year and approximately one-third of living kidney donors were reported “lost to follow-up”.

7. kidneyregistry.com kidneyregistry.com/for-donors/i-want-to-learn-more-about-living-kidney-donation/kidney-donation-risks/

Kidney Donation Risks For Living Donors Although kidney donation does not appear to impact life expectancy, research indicates that donating a kidney increases the risk of kidney failure over the ...

8. frontierspartnerships.org frontierspartnerships.org/journals/transplant-international/articles/10.3389/ti.2025.14024/full

Evaluating Risk in Kidney Living Donors Based on this, the estimated risk of ESKD 15 years after donation was 30.8 per 10,000 donors and 3.9 per 10,000 controls. On further analysis of ...

9. kidney.org kidney.org/kidney-topics/long-term-risks-living-donation

Long-Term Risks of Living Donation Less than 1% of living donors develop kidney failure after donation. If you end up needing a kidney transplant after donating, you will be given ...