title: Adoption of MELD score increases the number of liver transplant.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Liver transplantation is performed at large transplant centers worldwide as a therapeutic intervention for patients with end-stage liver diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the outcomes and incidence of liver transplantation performed at the University of São Paulo and to compare those with the State of São Paulo before and after adoption of the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score.
  
  
  METHODS
  Evaluation of the number of liver transplantations before and after adoption of the MELD score. Mean values and standard deviations were used to analyze normally distributed variables. The incidence results were compared with those of the State of São Paulo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a high prevalence of male patients, with a predominance of middle-aged. The main indication for liver transplantation was hepatitis C cirrhosis. The mean and median survival rates and overall survival over ten and five years were similar between the groups (p>0.05). The MELD score increased over the course of the study period for patients who underwent liver transplantation (p>0.05). There were an increased number of liver transplants after adoption of the MELD score at this institution and in the State of São Paulo (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The adoption of the MELD score led to increase the number of liver transplants performed in São Paulo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucas Souto
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Nacif
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wellington
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Andraus
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo Bronze
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vinicius Rocha
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael Soares
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana Bp
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Carneiro
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: D'Albuquerque
mesh_terms: D058625:End Stage Liver Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D012189:Retrospective Studies