A first in U.S., doctors transplant HIV-positive organs

The transplant team sits in the auditorium during a news conference announcing the first-ever HIV-positive liver transplant in the world, at Johns Hopkins hospital , March 30, 2016 in Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University announced Wednesday that both recipients are recovering well after one received a kidney and the other a liver from a deceased donor, organs that ordinarily would have been thrown away because of the HIV infection. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

Dr. Dorry Segev, left and Dr. Christine Durand answer questions about the first ever HIV-positive liver transplant in the world during a news conference at Johns Hopkins hospital, March 30, 2016 in Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University announced Wednesday that both recipients are recovering well after one received a kidney and the other a liver from a deceased donor, organs that ordinarily would have been thrown away because of the HIV infection. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

Doctor Dorry Segev answers questions about the first ever HIV-positive liver transplant in the world during a news conference at Johns Hopkins hospital, March 30, 2016 in Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University announced Wednesday that both recipients are recovering well after one received a kidney and the other a liver from a deceased donor organs that ordinarily would have been thrown away because of the HIV infection. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

Morris Murray, previous liver transplant recipient, recounts his experience awaiting liver transplant surgery, during a news conference at Johns Hopkins hospital announcing the first ever HIV-positive liver transplant, Wednesday, March 30, 2016, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

Morris Murray, previous liver transplant recipient, recounts his experience awaiting liver transplant surgery, during a news conference at Johns Hopkins hospital announcing the first ever HIV-positive liver transplant, Wednesday, March 30, 2016, in Baltimore. Surgeons in Baltimore for the first time have transplanted organs between an HIV-positive donor and HIV-positive recipients, a long-awaited new option for patients with the AIDS virus whose kidneys or livers also are failing. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

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The transplant team sits in the auditorium during a news conference announcing the first-ever HIV-positive liver transplant in the world, at Johns Hopkins hospital , March 30, 2016 in Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University announced Wednesday that both recipients are recovering well after one received a kidney and the other a liver from a deceased donor, organs that ordinarily would have been thrown away because of the HIV infection. (AP Photo/Gail Burton) Dr. Dorry Segev, left and Dr. Christine Durand answer questions about the first ever HIV-positive liver transplant in the world during a news conference at Johns Hopkins hospital, March 30, 2016 in Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University announced Wednesday that both recipients are recovering well after one received a kidney and the other a liver from a deceased donor, organs that ordinarily would have been thrown away because of the HIV infection. (AP Photo/Gail Burton) Doctor Dorry Segev answers questions about the first ever HIV-positive liver transplant in the world during a news conference at Johns Hopkins hospital, March 30, 2016 in Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University announced Wednesday that both recipients are recovering well after one received a kidney and the other a liver from a deceased donor organs that ordinarily would have been thrown away because of the HIV infection. (AP Photo/Gail Burton) Morris Murray, previous liver transplant recipient, recounts his experience awaiting liver transplant surgery, during a news conference at Johns Hopkins hospital announcing the first ever HIV-positive liver transplant, Wednesday, March 30, 2016, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton) Morris Murray, previous liver transplant recipient, recounts his experience awaiting liver transplant surgery, during a news conference at Johns Hopkins hospital announcing the first ever HIV-positive liver transplant, Wednesday, March 30, 2016, in Baltimore. Surgeons in Baltimore for the first time have transplanted organs between an HIV-positive donor and HIV-positive recipients, a long-awaited new option for patients with the AIDS virus whose kidneys or livers also are failing. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

The Associated Press

· March 30, 2016 7:10 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Washington • Surgeons in Baltimore have performed the nation's first organ transplants between HIV-positive people. It's a long-awaited new option to extend the lives of patients with the AIDS virus whose kidneys or livers also are failing.

Johns Hopkins University announced Wednesday that both recipients are recovering well after one received a kidney and the other a liver from a deceased donor — organs that ordinarily would have been thrown away because of the HIV infection.

Doctors in South Africa have reported successfully transplanting HIV-positive kidneys, but Hopkins said the HIV-positive liver transplant is the first worldwide. Hopkins didn't identify its patients but said the kidney recipient is recuperating at home and the liver recipient is expected to be discharged soon.

Modern anti-AIDS medications have turned HIV from a quick killer into a chronic disease — meaning patients may live long enough to suffer organ failure. In the U.S., HIV-positive patients already are eligible to receive transplants from HIV-negative donors just like anyone else on a waiting list.