Prognosis after liver transplantation predicted by preoperative MELD score

The model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) has been an excellent predictor of 3-month mortality among cirrhotic patients awaiting orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the preoperative MELD score predicts short-term prognosis after OLT. We enrolled 98 adult liver transplant patients performed at our center from January 2001 to December 2002. In univariate analysis of risk factors for death within 3 and 6 months after liver transplantation, serum total bilirubin, creatinine, MELD score, hyponatremia with ascites, Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score were statistically significant parameters (P <.05). By logistic regression, none of the risk factors were subjected to multivariate analysis showed statistical significance. The odds ratios of the MELD score, hyponatremia with ascites, CTP score within 3 months were 0.997, 1.151, and 0.726 with 95% confidence intervals of [0.899, 1.105], [0.102, 12.959], and [0.389, 1.352], respectively. The odds ratio of MELD score, hyponatremia with ascites, CTP score within 6 months were 0.996, 0.914, and 0.764, with 95% confidence intervals of [0.901, 1.102], [0.089, 9.369], and [0.417, 1.401], respectively. Although MELD score has been a good predictor of short-term prognosis before OLT, MELD did not show an influence on the short-term prognosis after liver transplantation in this study.