Organ donation & Hep B

I have inactive Hepatitis B antibodies. I'm registered as an organ donor should anything happen. Do I have to be taken off the list?

[bram44]

Yes. HBsAg +ve people are not considered for organ donation.

[Bynn]

Thanks. I have a hard time getting through to my doctor to ask questions over the phone. I'll get in touch with the organ donation group and update them.

[NashPred]

Contrary to popular belief (and what many Dr’s may also believe)…You CAN donate organs even though you have hepatitis.

These organ donations are usually made to another person who is already infected with hepatitis and in desperate need of an organ donation. I know that if I was dying of end stage liver disease, I would gladly accept an organ from someone who has hepatitis.

I wish I had more time to find some better articles about this, but here are a couple.

Quote from CDC website:
“refrain from donating blood, plasma, tissue, or semen (organs may be donated to HBV-immune or chronically infected persons needing a transplant; decisions about organ donation should be made on an individual basis”  http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5516a4.htm

From Dr D on the Hep expert forum:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/Blood-and-Organ-Donation/show/560506

And one more:
http://hepatitis.about.com/od/questions/f/OrganDonor.htm

By all means…donate if you are able, many people are in need. They may not go to someone who is not infected with hep, but it just may end up saving a fellow heppers life or even someone that is a member of our forum.

[bram44]

Here is more info :

Sort of against and for
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http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Gastroenterology/Possibility-of-Organ-donation-post-hepatitis-B/show/884590

An interesting story - for
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http://www.hepb.org/patients/patient_conference2005_wendy_story.htm

US - AmericanHeartAssociation - against
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http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4697

UK - some organs yes, and some no
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http://www.medkb.com/Uwe/Forum.aspx/med/7962/Organ-donation-and-past-hepatitis-B-infection

One could argue, if there are antibodies in receipient and the donor is low infectious, it should be allowed (safely, with everybody aware of the donor infection).