title: Model for end-stage liver disease score-based allocation of donors for liver transplantation: a spanish multicenter experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prioritizing the liver transplant waiting list (WL) is subject to great variability. We present the experience of four transplant centers in Andalusia (Southern Spain) with a new consensus model of WL management based on the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score.
  
  
  METHODS
  The initial criteria for local prioritizing were: a) cirrhosis with MELD score > or =24, and b) all hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) admitted to the WL. Fourteen months later new criteria were established: a) cirrhosis with MELD score > or =18, and b) uninodular HCC between 3-5 cm or multinodular HCC (2-3 nodules <3 cm). Access to regional priority was scheduled after three months for patients with cirrhosis or six months for patients with HCC. We analyzed the WL mortality rate, posttransplant survival rate, and overall survival rate over three 14-month periods: A (before implementation of priority criteria), B (initial criteria), and C (current criteria).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Priority was given to 36% of recipients in period B and 47% in period C. The WL mortality rate (including removals from WL) was 12.9%, 12.9%, and 10.7% in periods A, B, and C, respectively. One-year graft survival was 79.7%, 72.6%, and 81.2% in the same periods. The overall one-year survival rate for new cases on the WL was 74.9% in period A, 68.6% in period B, and 82.2% in period C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The allocation system and WL management with the current criteria resulted in lower waiting list mortality without reducing posttransplant survival, leading to better survival for all patients listed.
authors.affiliation: Liver Transplant Unit, Reina Sofía University Hospital, Córdoba, Spain. 2Andalusian Transplant Coordinating Office, Sevilla, Spain. med015511@saludalia.com
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de la Mata
authors.forename: Natividad
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cuende
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huet
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernardos
authors.forename: Jose Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ferrón
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Santoyo
authors.forename: Juan Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pascasio
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodrigo
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Solórzano
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martín-Vivaldi
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alonso
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D013030:Spain; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000379:methods*; D014850:Waiting Lists