Recruiting

Heart Transplants from HIV-Positive Donors for HIV-Positive Patients

Plain-English translation of NCT06659952 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated January 2026 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

What is this trial?

This is a research study testing whether people living with HIV who need a new heart can safely receive a heart from a donor who also has HIV. Currently, most heart transplants for HIV-positive patients come from HIV-negative donors, which limits the available organs. This study will carefully monitor your health after the transplant to see if receiving an HIV-positive donor heart is as safe and effective as receiving one from an HIV-negative donor.

There are not enough donor hearts available for people living with HIV who need transplants. This treatment could expand the pool of available organs and give more patients access to life-saving heart surgery. Most experience with transplants from HIV-positive donors has been with kidneys and livers, so researchers need more data about whether this approach works safely for hearts.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you have been diagnosed with HIV infection and your current viral load is below 50 copies per milliliter (or have had only minor temporary increases)
you have advanced, end-stage heart failure and meet standard requirements for a heart transplant at your hospital
your CD4+ T-cell count is 200 or higher within 16 weeks of your transplant
you are 18 years or older and able to understand and consent to the study
you are able and willing to take all medications needed for your transplant and HIV care for the rest of your life
you see (or are willing to start seeing) a doctor who specializes in HIV management

You likely don't qualify if…

you have a history of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (a serious brain infection) or CNS lymphoma
you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or unwilling to use effective birth control
you have severe wasting or malnutrition related to HIV disease
you have active opportunistic infections that have not been treated or are not controlled

What participation looks like

If you enroll, you will be waitlisted for a heart transplant. When a donor heart becomes available — either from an HIV-positive or HIV-negative donor — you will receive the transplant. After surgery, you will have regular follow-up visits with your transplant team and HIV specialist to check your heart function, monitor for complications, and manage your medications. The study will track your health and survival over the long term to understand how well this new approach works.

Heart Transplants from HIV-Positive Donors for HIV-Positive Patients

What is this trial?

Do you qualify?

What participation looks like

Trial locations(1 site)