A new study in the latest issue of Liver Transplantation found that among those patients on the wait list for a liver transplant, those with hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer, HCC) are less likely to die while on the list than those without liver cancer, suggesting that the criteria for addition to the wait list be reevaluated.
Currently, the United Network for Organ Sharing uses the Model for End Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scoring system to prioritize candidates on the list for liver transplantation in the United States.
"With the scarcity of available livers for transplantation, it is vital that allocation criteria ensure those candidates at greatest mortality risk are first to receive a life-saving organ," said University of Pennsylvania researcher Dr. David Goldberg and lead author of the study. "Our data suggest HCC candidates have substantially lower odds of waitlist removal for death or deterioration than non-HCC candidates, and strongly indicates that exception points currently allotted for HCC should be lowered."
An accompanying editorial in the journal authored by Dr. Patrick Northup from the University of Virginia agreed with the findings of the researchers.
Source: Medical News Today
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