Badi RAWASHDEH, Haneen AL-ABDALLAT, Noor Haj MOHAMMAD, Ayham ASASSFEH, Emre ARPALI, Beje THOMAS, Matthew COOPER, Ty DUNN
Experimental and Clinical Transplantation - 2026;24(7):513-521
Objectives: The introduction of direct-acting antivirals has transformed kidney transplantation with hepatitis C virus-positive donors from a high-risk practice to a safe strategy for expanding the donor pool. This study aimed to highlight global research trends, collaborations, and shifts in hepatitis C virus-positive donor kidney transplant before and after the direct-acting antiviral era. Materials and Methods: We conducted a thorough search of the Web of Science database, focusing on research output with relevant key words related to the hepatitis C virus and kidney transplant, resulting in 414 pertinent research items. We analyzed these items using bibliometric parameters. Results: Over the past 2 decades, notable shifts have occurred in the research trajectory, with a peak in publications observed in 2018 and 2019 following the introduction of direct-acting antivirals, followed by a decline in subsequent years. The United States generated the highest research output, followed by France and Spain. The journals Transplantation and American Journal of Transplantation dominated in terms of citations. The University of Toulouse, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Miami were the leading institutional contributors. Conclusions: The introduction of direct-acting antivirals coincided with a rapid rise in research activity and global collaboration, reflecting the transition of hepatitis C virus-positive donor kidney transplant from a high-risk practice to routine clinical adoption.
