Abstract

The Share 35 policy was implemented in June 2013 to improve equity in access to liver transplantation (LT) between patients with fulminant liver failure and those with cirrhosis and severe hepatic decompensation. The aim of this study was to assess post-LT outcomes after Share 35.Relevant donor, procurement, and recipient data were extracted from the OPTN/UNOS database. All adult deceased donor LT from January 1, 2010 to March 31, 2016 were included in the analysis. One-year patient survival before and after Share 35 was assessed by multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis, with adjustment for variables known to affect graft survival.Of 34,975 adult LT recipients, 16,472 (47.1%) were transplanted after the implementation of Share 35, of whom 4,599 (27.9%) had a Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) =35. One-year patient survival improved from 83.9% to 88.4% after Share 35 (p<0.01) for patients with MELD =35. There was no significant impact on survival of patients with MELD <35 (p=0.69). Quality of donor organs, as measured by Donor Risk Index without the regional share component, improved for patients with MELD =35 (p<0.01) and worsened for patients with lower MELD (p<0.01). In multivariable Cox regression analysis, Share 35 was associated with improved one-year patient survival (hazard ratio 0.69, 95% confidence interval 0.60-0.80) in recipients with MELD =35.Share 35 has had a positive impact on survival after transplantation in patients with MELD =35, without a reciprocal detriment in patients with lower acuity. This was in part a result of a more favorable donor-recipient matching. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

View details for DOI 10.1002/hep.29301

View details for PubMedID 28586179