Real-world data to improve organ and tissue donation policies: lessons learned from the tissue and organ donor epidemiology study

Abstract Background The transplantation of human organs, and some human tissues, is often the only life-saving therapy available for serious and life-threatening congenital, inherited or acquired diseases. However, it is associated with a risk of transmission of communicable diseases from donor to r...

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Main Authors: Melissa A. Greenwald, Hussein Ezzeldin, Emily A. Blumberg, Barbee I. Whitaker, Richard A. Forshee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-11-01
Series:Health Research Policy and Systems
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-024-01237-0
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author Melissa A. Greenwald
Hussein Ezzeldin
Emily A. Blumberg
Barbee I. Whitaker
Richard A. Forshee
author_facet Melissa A. Greenwald
Hussein Ezzeldin
Emily A. Blumberg
Barbee I. Whitaker
Richard A. Forshee
author_sort Melissa A. Greenwald
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The transplantation of human organs, and some human tissues, is often the only life-saving therapy available for serious and life-threatening congenital, inherited or acquired diseases. However, it is associated with a risk of transmission of communicable diseases from donor to recipient. It is imperative to understand the characteristics of the donor population (including both potential and actual donors) to inform policies that protect recipient safety. The Tissue and Organ Donor Epidemiology Study (TODES) was a pilot project designed to identify and collect standardized information on deceased persons referred for organ, tissue and/or eye donation, and to estimate (to the extent possible) infectious disease prevalence and incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in this population. TODES is summarized here to shed light on addressable limitations on accessing data needed for transplant recipient safety. Limitations, future research needs and potential pathways to solve the remaining data needs are explored. Methods Retrospective data for all deceased donors during a 5-year period from 2009 to 2013 were obtained from participating organ procurement organizations (OPOs), tissue establishments and eye banks. These decedent data were used to ascertain whether the available real-world data (RWD) could be used to inform donor screening and testing policy. Results The TODES database contains 291 848 records received from nine OPOs and 42 451 records received from four eye banks. Data were analysed from deceased donors with at least one organ, tissue or ocular tissue recovered with the intent to transplant. Results for potential donors were not analysed. Available RWD at the time of the TODES study were not fit-for-purpose to help characterize the organ, tissue and eye donor populations and/or to inform donor screening policy. Conclusions Recent advances in electronic data collection systems make it more realistic to now collect fit-for-purpose RWD that address the research needed to improve transplant safety.
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spelling doaj-art-3116c84a2d2642c0bc51caef1d5aa5222024-11-17T12:54:15ZengBMCHealth Research Policy and Systems1478-45052024-11-0122111310.1186/s12961-024-01237-0Real-world data to improve organ and tissue donation policies: lessons learned from the tissue and organ donor epidemiology studyMelissa A. Greenwald0Hussein Ezzeldin1Emily A. Blumberg2Barbee I. Whitaker3Richard A. Forshee4Uniformed Services UniversityCenter for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug AdministrationDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaCenter for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug AdministrationCenter for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug AdministrationAbstract Background The transplantation of human organs, and some human tissues, is often the only life-saving therapy available for serious and life-threatening congenital, inherited or acquired diseases. However, it is associated with a risk of transmission of communicable diseases from donor to recipient. It is imperative to understand the characteristics of the donor population (including both potential and actual donors) to inform policies that protect recipient safety. The Tissue and Organ Donor Epidemiology Study (TODES) was a pilot project designed to identify and collect standardized information on deceased persons referred for organ, tissue and/or eye donation, and to estimate (to the extent possible) infectious disease prevalence and incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in this population. TODES is summarized here to shed light on addressable limitations on accessing data needed for transplant recipient safety. Limitations, future research needs and potential pathways to solve the remaining data needs are explored. Methods Retrospective data for all deceased donors during a 5-year period from 2009 to 2013 were obtained from participating organ procurement organizations (OPOs), tissue establishments and eye banks. These decedent data were used to ascertain whether the available real-world data (RWD) could be used to inform donor screening and testing policy. Results The TODES database contains 291 848 records received from nine OPOs and 42 451 records received from four eye banks. Data were analysed from deceased donors with at least one organ, tissue or ocular tissue recovered with the intent to transplant. Results for potential donors were not analysed. Available RWD at the time of the TODES study were not fit-for-purpose to help characterize the organ, tissue and eye donor populations and/or to inform donor screening policy. Conclusions Recent advances in electronic data collection systems make it more realistic to now collect fit-for-purpose RWD that address the research needed to improve transplant safety.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-024-01237-0Organ transplantationTissue transplantationOcular transplantationCommunicable diseasesDonor screeningDonor testing
spellingShingle Melissa A. Greenwald
Hussein Ezzeldin
Emily A. Blumberg
Barbee I. Whitaker
Richard A. Forshee
Real-world data to improve organ and tissue donation policies: lessons learned from the tissue and organ donor epidemiology study
Health Research Policy and Systems
Organ transplantation
Tissue transplantation
Ocular transplantation
Communicable diseases
Donor screening
Donor testing
title Real-world data to improve organ and tissue donation policies: lessons learned from the tissue and organ donor epidemiology study
title_full Real-world data to improve organ and tissue donation policies: lessons learned from the tissue and organ donor epidemiology study
title_fullStr Real-world data to improve organ and tissue donation policies: lessons learned from the tissue and organ donor epidemiology study
title_full_unstemmed Real-world data to improve organ and tissue donation policies: lessons learned from the tissue and organ donor epidemiology study
title_short Real-world data to improve organ and tissue donation policies: lessons learned from the tissue and organ donor epidemiology study
title_sort real world data to improve organ and tissue donation policies lessons learned from the tissue and organ donor epidemiology study
topic Organ transplantation
Tissue transplantation
Ocular transplantation
Communicable diseases
Donor screening
Donor testing
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-024-01237-0
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