People with HIV who need a kidney or liver transplant will be able to receive an organ from a donor with HIV.

Summary

U.S. health officials announced a new rule allowing kidney and liver transplants from HIV-positive donors to HIV-positive recipients, expanding beyond prior research-only limits.

Effective Wednesday, the change aims to increase the organ donor pool and shorten wait times for all patients.

Research, including a New England Journal of Medicine study, confirms the safety of these transplants, showing similar survival and rejection rates compared to non-HIV donors.

The practice, first proven safe in South Africa in 2010, has led to 500 such transplants in the U.S. since 2013.