The impact of the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) on liver transplantation in one center in Brazil

BAR, SOFT AND DRI POST-HEPATIC TRANSPLANTATION: WHAT IS THE BEST FOR SURVIVAL ANALYSIS?

BACKGROUND

Liver transplantation is the treatment of choice for patients with terminal liver disease. The Balance of Risk Score (BAR), Survival Outcomes Following Liver Transplantation (SOFT) and Donor Risk Index (DRI) scores are predictive systems for post-transplant survival.

AIM

To evaluate the most accurate score and the best cutoff point for each predictor in the brazilian population.

METHOD

Retrospective cross-sectional study of 177 patients. Data on the recipient, donor and transplant were analyzed and the prognostic scores BAR, SOFT and DRI were calculated for each transplant. To determine the BAR and SOFT cutoff points associated with death in three months, ROC curves were adjusted. Results : The best cutoff point for BAR was 9 points with an area under the ROC curve=0.69 and for SOFT it was 12 points with an area under the ROC curve=0.73. The DRI score did not discriminate survival (p = 0.139).

CONCLUSION

The SOFT score proved to be better than BAR for survival analysis post-hepatic transplantation and the DRI was not effective.

Modified model for end-stage liver disease score predicts 30-day mortality in high-risk patients with acute pulmonary embolism admitted to intensive care units

OBJECTIVES

The Model for End-stage Liver Disease excluding the international normalised ratio that is derived from prothrombin time which is calculated as a ratio of the patient's prothrombin time to a control prothrombin time standardized (MELD-XI) and modified MELD, which uses albumin in place of the international normalised ratio (MELD-Albumin) scores reflect liver and renal function and are predictors of mortality. However, their prognostic value in acute pulmonary embolism (APE) has not been studied.

DESIGN

We assessed the predictive value of the MELD scores in patients diagnosed with high-risk APE admitted to the intensive care unit. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality.

RESULTS

Of the 273 patients included in the study, 231 were survivors and 42 were non-survivors. The mortality rate was 15.3%. The mean MELD-XI and MELD-Albumin scores were significantly higher in the non-survivors than in the survivors (MELD XI, 11.8 ± 1.8 and 10.6 ± 1.43, respectively; p = .002; MELD-Albumin, 10.5 ± 1.6 and 8.7 ± 1.1, respectively; p = .001). The multiple logistic regression analysis identified the MELD-XI (hazard ratio: 3.029, confidence interval: 1.06-1.21, p = .007) and MELD-Albumin (hazard ratio: 1.13, confidence interval: 1.06-1.21, p = .002) scores as independent predictors of mortality. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that the predictive power of the MELD-Albumin score (0.871 ± 0.014; p < .001) was higher than those of the MELD-XI (0.726 ± 0.022, p < .001), APACHE III (0.682 ± 0.024, p < .001), and PESI (0.624 ± 0.023, p < .001) scores.

CONCLUSIONS

The MELD-Albumin score is an easily calculable, reliable, and practical risk assessment tool and independent predictor of 30-day mortality in patients with high-risk APE.

MELD EXCEPTION POINTS PROVIDE AN ENOURMOUS ADVANTAGE FOR RECEIVING A LIVER TRANSPLANT IN BRAZIL

BACKGROUND

Current policy for listing to liver transplant (LT) may place cirrhotic patients without MELD exception points (CIR) in a disadvantageous position if compared to patients enlisted with appealed MELD scores - patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or special conditions other than hepatocellular carcinoma (SPE). Transplant rates, delisting, and waitlist mortality of CIR, HCC, and SPE candidates were compared.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to counterweight the listing rate and speed of listing of HCC, SPE, and CIR patients. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study comparing the outcomes of patients enlisted for SPE to those of HCC and CIR. In several countries worldwide, SPE patients also receive appealed MELD scores in a similar way of HCC patients.

METHODS

Two cohorts of patients listed for LT in a single institution were evaluated. The first cohort (C1, n=180) included all patients enlisted on August 1st, 2008, and all additional patients listed from this date until July 31st, 2009. The second cohort (C2, n=109) included all patients present on the LT list on October 1st, 2012, and all additional patients listed from this date until May 2014.

RESULTS

In both cohorts, HCC patients had a higher chance of receiving a LT than CIR patients (C1HR =2.05, 95%CI=1.54-2.72, P<0.0001; C2HR =3.17, 95%CI =1.83-5.52, P<0.0001). For C1, 1-year waiting list mortality was 21.6% (30.0% for CIR vs 9.5% for HCC vs 7.1% for SPE) (P<0.001). For C2, 1-year waiting list mortality was 13.3% (25.7% for CIR, 8.3% for HCC, and 4.0% for SPE) (P<0.001). Post-transplant survival was similar among the three groups.

CONCLUSION

Compared to CIR, SPE and HCC patients had lower wait list mortality. CIR patients had the highest waitlist mortality and the lowest odd of LT. Current LT allocation system does not allow equitable organ allocation.

Impact of the MELD score on the survival of hepatocellular carcinoma transplantation patients in Brazil: a systematic review

This study aimed to analyse the predictive value of Model For End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score on medium- and long-term survival in transplanted hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients in Brazil. The study was registered with International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under N# 152,363. Inclusion criteria were based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) recommendations. The search was performed on the indexed databases of Lilacs, SciELO, PubMed, and Cochrane Library, and used as search strategy the following Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms: ((("MELD Score") OR "Model For End-Stage Liver Disease") AND "Hepatocellular Carcinoma") AND ("Brazil"). We included full-text articles published from January 2006 to October 2019. The initial search found 162 articles. After reading the available abstracts and full texts, 156 articles were excluded, totaling six articles for qualitative analysis. Although the small number of eligible articles was a limiting factor of the study, our results partially corroborated those found in the United States, United Kingdom, and Ireland. In these countries, unlike Brazil, MELD prognostic model has shown a strong association with post-liver transplant (LT) survival. However, the low predictive capacity of the model in medium- and long-term has been similar to the one of our study. The urgency of the development and validation of a post-transplant survival model for patients with HCC is set, improving the organ allocation system in Brazil.

Association between viscoelastic tests-guided therapy with synthetic factor concentrates and allogenic blood transfusion in liver transplantation: a before-after study

Background

Perioperative bleeding and transfusion are important causes of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing liver transplantation. The aim of this study is to assess whether viscoelastic tests-guided therapy with the use of synthetic factor concentrates impact transfusion rates of hemocomponents in adult patients undergoing liver transplantation.

Methods

This is an interventional before-after comparative study. Patients undergoing liver transplantation before the implementation of a protocol using thromboelastometry and synthetic factor concentrates were compared to patients after the implementation. Primary outcome was transfusion of any hemocomponents. Secondary outcomes included: transfusion of red blood cells (RBC), fresh frozen plasma (FFP), cryoprecipitate or platelets, clinical complications, length of stay and in-hospital mortality.

Results

A total of 183 patients were included in the control and 54 in the intervention phase. After propensity score matching, the proportion of patients receiving any transfusion of hemocomponents was lower in the intervention phase (37.0 vs 58.4%; OR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.20–0.87; p = 0.019). Patients in the intervention phase received less RBC (30.2 vs 52.5%; OR, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.08–0.56; p = 0.002) and FFP (5.7 vs 27.3%; OR, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.03–0.43; p = 0.002). There was no difference regarding transfusion of cryoprecipitate and platelets, complications related to the procedure, hospital length of stay and mortality.

Conclusions

Use of a viscoelastic test-guided transfusion algorithm with the use of synthetic factor concentrates reduces the transfusion rates of allogenic blood in patients submitted to liver transplantation.

Trial registration

This trial was registered retrospectively on November 15th, 2018 – clinicaltrials.gov – Identifier: NCT03756948.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12871-018-0664-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

THE USE OF MELD SCORE (MODEL FOR END-STAGE LIVER DISEASE) AND DERIVATIVES IN CARDIAC TRANSPLANTATION

Introduction:

Heart transplantation is still the best therapeutic alternative for the treatment of end-stage heart failure. The use of criteria that consider the complications associated with this procedure can guarantee a better evaluation of the recipient and prepare the team for possible unsatisfactory post-transplant results. The use of the MELD score has been expanded to evaluate cirrhotic patients undergoing various procedures, including cardiac transplantation.

Objective:

To analyze the knowledge on MELD score and its derivatives to the prognosis of patients with end-stage heart failure considered for heart transplantation.

Method:

Was carried out an integrative review of the publications of the last ten years in Pubmed and Lilacs databases, using the descriptors “heart transplantation”, “liver disease” and “prognosis”. From the total of 111 articles found, six were selected and composed the sample.

Results:

The MELD-XI score (eXcluding INR) was the most analyzed in the studies due to the exclusion of INR, since many patients with heart failure use anticoagulants, which may alter their value. MELD and derivatives were associated with unsatisfactory results in cardiac transplantation.

Conclusion:

The MELD score can be considered as a good predictor for heart transplantation; however, there are still few studies that make this correlation.

BILIARY COMPLICATIONS AFTER LIVER TRANSPLANTATION

BACKGROUND

Biliary reconstitution has been considered the Achilles's heel of liver transplantations due to its high rate of postoperative complications.

AIM

To evaluate the risk factors for occurrence of biliary strictures and leakages, and the most efficient methods for their treatment.

METHOD

Of 310 patients who underwent liver transplantation between 2001 and 2015, 182 medical records were retrospectively analyzed. Evaluated factors included demographic profile, type of transplantation and biliary reconstitution, presence of vascular and biliary complications, their treatment and results.

RESULTS

153 (84.07%) deceased donor and 29 (15.93%) living donor transplantations were performed. Biliary complications occurred in 49 patients (26.92%): 28 strictures (15.38%), 14 leakages (7.7%) and seven leakages followed by strictures (3.85%). Hepatic artery thrombosis was present in 10 patients with biliary complications (20.4%; p=0,003). Percutaneous and endoscopic interventional procedures (including balloon dilation and stent insertion) were the treatment of choice for biliary complications. In case of radiological or endoscopic treatment failure, surgical intervention was performed (biliodigestive derivation or retransplantation (32.65%). Complications occurred in 25% of patients treated with endoscopic or percutaneous procedures and in 42.86% of patients reoperated. Success was achieved in 45% of patients who underwent endoscopic or percutaneous procedures and in 61.9% of those who underwent surgery.

CONCLUSION

Biliary complications are frequent events after liver transplantation. They often require new interventions: endoscopic and percutaneous procedures at first and surgical treatment when needed. Hepatic artery thrombosis increases the number of biliary complications.

COMPARATIVE STUDY ON LIVER TRANSPLANTATION WITH AND WITHOUT HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA WITH CIRRHOSIS: ANALYSIS OF MELD, WAITING TIME AND SURVIVAL

Background :

Liver transplantation is the usual treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim:

To analyze the MELD score, waiting time and three month and one year survival for liver transplantation in cirrhotic patients affected by hepatocellular carcinoma or not.

Methods :

This was a retrospective, observational and analytical study of 93 patients submitted to liver transplantation.

Results :

There were 28 hepatocellular carcinoma and 65 non-hepatocellular carcinoma patients with no differences related to age and sex distribution. The main causes of cirrhosis on hepatocellular carcinoma were hepatitis C virus (57.1%) and hepatitis B virus (28.5%), more frequent than non-hepatocellular carcinoma patients, which presented 27.7% and 4.6% respectively. The physiological and exception MELD score on hepatocellular carcinoma were 11.9 and 22.3 points. On non-hepatocellular carcinoma, it was 19.4 points, higher than the physiological MELD and lower than the exception MELD on hepatocellular carcinoma. The waiting time for transplantation was 96.2 days for neoplasia, shorter than the waiting time for non-neoplasia patients, which was 165.6 days. Three month and one year survival were 85.7% and 78.6% for neoplasia patients, similar to non-neoplasia, which were 77% and 75.4%.

Conclusion:

Hepatocellular carcinoma patients presented lower physiological MELD score, higher exception MELD score and shorter waiting time for transplantation when compared to non-hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Three month and one year survival were the same between the groups.

THE IMPACT OF THE MELD SCORE ON LIVER TRANSPLANT ALLOCATION AND RESULTS: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Introduction

Liver transplantation is intended to increase the survival of patients with chronic liver disease in terminal phase, as well as improved quality of life. Since the first transplant until today many changes have occurred in the organ allocation system.

Objective

To review the literature on the Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) and analyze its correlation with survival after liver transplantation.

Method

An integrative literature review in Lilacs, SciELO, and Pubmed in October 2015, was realized. Were included eight studies related to the MELD score and its impact on liver transplant.

Results

There was predominance of transplants in male between 45-55 y. The main indications were hepatitis C, hepatocellular carcinoma and alcoholic cirrhosis. The most important factors post-surgery were related to the MELD score, the recipient age, expanded donor criteria and hemotransfusion.

Conclusion

The MELD system reduced the death rate in patients waiting for a liver transplant. However, this score by itself is not a good predictor of survival after liver transplantation.

Analysis of the survival of cirrhotic patients enlisted for liver transplantation in the pre- and post-MELD era in southern Brazil

CONTEXT

Transplantation is the only cure for decompensated cirrhosis. Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) is used in liver allocation.

OBJECTIVES

Comparing survival of enlisted populations in pre- and post-MELD eras and estimating their long-term survival.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study of cirrhotics enlisted for transplantation during pre- and post-MELD eras. Survival curves were generated using Kaplan-Meier's model. Cox's model was used to determine risk factors for mortality. Exponential, Weibull's, normal-log and Gompertz's models were used to estimate long-term survival.

RESULTS

The study included 162 patients enlisted in pre-MELD era and 184 in post-MELD period. Kaplan-Meier's survival curve of patients enlisted in post-MELD era was better than that of pre-MELD period (P = 0.009). This difference remained for long-term estimates, with a survival of 53.54% in 5 years and 44.64% in 10 years for patients enlisted in post-MELD era and of 43.17% and 41.75% for pre-MELD period. Era in which patients had been enlisted (P = 0.010) and MELD score at enlistment (P<0.001) were independently associated to survival with hazard ratios of 0.664 (95% CI-confidence interval = 0.487-0.906) and 1.069 (95% CI = 1.043-1.095).

CONCLUSIONS

MELD-based transplantation policy is superior to chronology-based one, promoting better survival for enlisted patients, even in long-term.

Clinical and epidemiological aspects of hepatocellular carcinoma in Brazil

The global hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence is widely variable, depending on geographic region and the prevalence of major risk factors. In Brazil, two large multicentre retrospective studies were performed to investigate clinical and epidemiological aspects of HCC. In the first study, performed in 1997, HCC was found in cirrhotic livers in 71% of cases. Chronic alcoholism was present in 36% of cases, chronic hepatitis B in 35% and hepatitis C in 25%. In a 2010 survey, cirrhosis was present in 98% of cases and HCV was the main aetiology (54%). Differences in HBV prevalence were found among regions. Selection of HCC treatment depends on tumour burden, liver function and performance status. Liver transplantation (LT) is the best available curative treatment for HCC in its early stage and with compromised liver function. After modifications in priority policy, the number of patients with early HCC submitted for LT has increased in the past 5 years in Brazil. Chemoembolization is the most common initial HCC therapy in early and intermediate stages of HCC in Brazil.

Predictive factors of early graft loss in living donor liver transplantation

CONTEXT

Living donor liver transplantation has become an alternative to reduce the lack of organ donation.

OBJECTIVE

To identify factors predictive of early graft loss in the first 3 months after living donor liver transplantation.

METHODS

Seventy-eight adults submitted to living donor liver transplantation were divided into group I with 62 (79.5%) patients with graft survival longer than 3 months, and group II with 16 (20.5%) patients who died and/or showed graft failure within 3 months after liver transplantation. The variables analyzed were gender, age, etiology of liver disease, Child-Pugh classification, model of end-stage liver disease (MELD score), pretransplantation serum sodium level, and graft weight-to-recipient body weight (GRBW) ratio. The GRBW ratio was categorized into < 0.8 and MELD score into >18. The chi-square test, Student t-test and uni- and multivariate analysis were used for the evaluation of risk factors for early graft loss.

RESULTS

MELD score <18 (P<0.001) and serum sodium level > 135 mEq/L (P = 0.03) were higher in group II than in group I. In the multivariate analysis MELD scores > 18 (P<0.001) and GRBW ratios < 0.8 (P<0.04) were significant.

CONCLUSIONS

MELD scores >18 and GRBW < 0.8 ratios are associated with higher probability of graft failure after living donor liver transplantation.