Waiting list outcome of Peld/Meld exceptions: A single-center experience in Argentina.

ABSTRACT

As PELD/MELD-based allocation policy was adopted in Argentina in 2005, a system of exception points has been in place in order to award increased waitlist priority to those patients whose severity of illness is not captured by the PELD/MELD score. We aimed to investigate the WL outcome of patients with granted PELD/MELD exceptions. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in children under 18 years old. WL outcomes were evaluated using univariable analysis. From 07/2005 to 01/2014, 408 children were listed for LT. There were 304 classified by calculated PELD/MELD. During this time, 85 (30%) PELD/MELD exceptions were granted. In this cohort, 89.4% (76 of 85) were transplanted and 7.1% (6 of 85) died while on the WL. The remaining 3 pts (3.5%) were removed from the WL due to other causes. We compared the impact of PELD/MELD exceptions in those 85 patients to outcomes in 87 non-exception patients with PELD/MELD ≥19 points. Patients with the exception had significantly better access to WL and lower WL mortality. Our data suggest that children listed by PELD/MELD exceptions had an advantage compared to children with CLD with equivalent PELD/MELD listing priorities.