Should all Status 1A patients be prioritized over high MELD patients? Concept of Risk Stratification in Extremely Ill Liver Transplant Recipients

Background: Status 1A patients are prioritized over liver disease patients regardless of model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score. We aimed to identify groups with high waitlist mortality in Status 1A and MELD≥40 patients to determine who would most benefit from transplantation. Methods: Data on patients listed as Status 1A (n=4447) and MELD≥40 (n=3663) over 15 years (2002 to 2017) obtained from UNOS/OPTN registry. They were divided into two; derivation and validation groups. Risk factors associated with 28-day waitlist mortality were identified in derivation group and provided risk scores to divide patients into risk groups. Score system was applied to validation group to check its applicability. Results: Risk factors for waitlist mortality in Status 1A included life support, performance status, severe coagulopathy, severe hypo or hypernatremia, and grade 3-4 encephalopathy. Risk factors in MELD≥40 included higher MELD scores (≥45), age, sex, race, life support, and encephalopathy. On comparing 7-day and 28-day mortality, both were higher in Status 1A and MELD≥40 high-risk groups compared to low-risk groups in the derivation group (p

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