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World's First HIV+ to HIV+ Lung Transplant a Success
22 Jun
Summary
- Surgeons successfully transplanted HIV-positive lungs into an HIV-positive recipient.
- The patient is recovering well, breathing without oxygen after four years.
- This breakthrough expands donor options for HIV-positive individuals.
Surgeons at NYU Langone Health in New York achieved a historic milestone on March 21, 2026, by successfully completing the world's first HIV-positive-to-HIV-positive lung transplant. The recipient, 56-year-old Bertrand Nelson, who has lived with HIV for over two decades, received donor lungs from an HIV-positive individual.
Nelson, who also received a liver transplant during the same operation, is now breathing independently, a remarkable recovery from his previous reliance on oxygen for four years. This advancement, made possible under the U.S. HOPE Act, significantly broadens the availability of organs for HIV-positive patients facing end-stage lung disease.
Historically, HIV was a barrier to transplantation, but advancements in treatment and the HOPE Act have facilitated HIV-positive-to-HIV-positive kidney and liver transplants. Lungs present unique challenges due to their exposure to pathogens, making this lung transplant a particularly noteworthy achievement.
This success is expected to encourage more transplant centers globally to explore similar procedures. It represents a significant stride toward greater equity in organ transplantation and highlights the progress in managing HIV as a chronic condition, enabling complex life-saving interventions.
