title: Liver transplantation: expectation with MELD score for liver allocation in Brazil.
abstract: Liver transplantation represents the most effective therapy for patients suffering from chronic end-stage liver disease. Until very recently, in Brazil, liver allocation was based on the Child-Turcotte-Pugh score and the waiting list followed a chronological criterion. In February 2002 the Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score was adopted for the allocation of donor livers in the US. After that change, an increased number of patients with more severe liver disease was observed, although there was no difference in 1-year patient and graft survival. A reduction in waiting-list mortality was also observed. In Brazil, the MELD score was adopted on May 31st, 2006. Good results are expected regarding the new criterion for allocation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Surgery and Anatomy, FMRP, USP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andreza Correa
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Fernanda Fernandes
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Gustavo de Assis
authors.initials: Gde A
authors.lastname: Mota
authors.forename: Ana de Lourdes Candolo
authors.initials: Ade L
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: Ajith Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Sankarankutty
authors.forename: Orlando de Castro e
authors.initials: Ode C
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D018579:Patient Selection; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016019:Survival Analysis; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000379:methods*; D014850:Waiting Lists