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UNOS uses the Mayo Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, amarker of disease severity to assess prognosis of patients with liver disease.According to Dr. Goldstein, "Percentage of patients who are on the transplantlist who die before transplant varies by region but we estimate between 5% and10%." Patients are usually added to the waitlist when they meet certainmedical criteria for transplantation. MELD scores may vary at the time oflisting, depending on the severity of illness and the timing of presentationto a transplant center. "Many other patients will not meet criteria forlisting because of severity of disease and some will become inactive and diebecause of progression of cancer or unstable psychosocial situations," saysDr. Goldstein.
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The researchers calculated the relative waitlist mortality andposttransplant survival for recipients who received living donor organs, aswell as deceased donor organs that are both low and high donor risk index.They concluded that living donor and high donor risk index allografts offerthe most benefit to those with a mid-Meld score (between 11 and 24) but isdependent on early timing of transplant and should be used early to decreasewaitlist mortality. Speaking of the conclusions, Dr. Goldstein says, "We arenot surprised by the findings. We have assumed this for some time in New Yorkand live by these standards every day."
Dr. Goldstein concludes, "The real benefits to adopting new allocationstrategies are to increase regional organ sharing for those areas mostdisadvantaged by the donor shortage. We can redistribute organs from areaswith short waiting times to allow sick patients to be transplanted sooner inregions with little access to organs."
Abstract title:
Early access to liver transplantation reduces 5-year mortality despitedifferences in donor quality
AASLD is the leading medical organization for advancing the science andpractice of hepatology. Founded by physicians in 1950, AASLD's vision is toprevent and cure liver diseases. This year's Liver Meeting, held in SanFrancisco, California, October 31-November 4, will bring together more than7,000 researchers from 55 countries.
A pressroom will be available from November 1 at the annual meeting. Forcopies of abstracts and press releases, or to arrange for pre-conferenceresearch interviews contact Gregory Bologna at 703-299-9766. To pre-register,call Ann Tracy at 703-299-9766.
Press releases and all abstracts are available online at www.aasld.org.
This release was issued through The Xpress Press News Service, merginge-mail and satellite distribution technologies to reach business analysts andmedia outlets worldwide. For more information, visithttp://www.XpressPress.com.
SOURCE AASLD
