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The MELD Score: Definitions and Frequently Asked Questions Jun 12, 2023 | By Mayo Clinic Transplant Staff (@mayoclinictransplantstaff)Comment receiving replies
Does anyone know how the MELD score affects a living donor transplant? My MELD score is currently 9, which according to my team is too low to be listed on the transplant list, so I've been denied. I'm their words, I'm not "sick enough.". Ok, I get that there are others out there with much higher urgency than me, but I know I'm sick. I feel sick, I look sick, etc. My friends and family started to ask about living donor and I have several that would like to start the ball rolling before it becomes an urgent situation. It sounds from the person, I'm sorry I don't remember your name, who went from a score of 10, and I'm assuming was listed at 10, to having a new liver in only 8 months. Congratulations btw! I don't think Mayo lists at 10, but I could be wrong. Regardless they did deny me getting listed at the present time so, after this very long text, sorry about that, can the process be started for a living donor transplant if I'm not on the transplant list yet? My family and friends think it's absurd to have to wait to get "sick enough" before anything can be done, which is where the living donor aspect came in. If they want to give me a portion of their liver, they should be able to before a subscribed cut off score. Anyway, thoughts?
Replies to "Does anyone know how the MELD score affects a living donor transplant? My MELD score is..."
@karenjette - Thanks for the comment on our MELD score blog. MELD score is calculated using your most recent bloodwork results and can change often. There’s no MELD score cutoff for living donor transplant, although doctors have found that the benefit of transplant surgery outweighs the risks of that surgery when the MELD score is above 15. This is a general statement and patients are all evaluated individually to be listed for transplant. The doctors will consider your symptoms along with your MELD score to decide if it’s time for you to be listed for transplant, but they need to be confident that those symptoms would be fixed with the transplant surgery in order to list people at a very low MELD score. The term “too early” often just means that they will see you back every few months to reassess your situation and your MELD score. We wouldn’t evaluate any potential donors until we know a timeline of when you might be listed and your evaluation for that listing is completed.
We understand that it’s difficult to trust in the process when you aren’t feeling well. Our team has been performing evaluations and transplants for nearly 40 years and have seen 1000s of patients, and our doctors have fine tuned the knowledge regarding evaluations and listing patients. We are very happy to answer any questions pertaining to your personal situation through our patient online services. Feel free to call or message your nurse at any time.
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In my case, yes you can get on the list at a lower meld score if you have a living donor (not sure if Mayo agrees) but in my case my meld was low but my L.D. started the process of being listed as a donor. She put my name down as recipient. I was tested at the same time she was being tested. She was a perfect match. And was approved while I was being evaluated. I listed in 1 year, by then my meld score had jumped. The place I got my surgery has the mindset of -it's better to transplant a healthier sick person than a critical sick person. I tend to agree. Am 6 months post liver tx. Doing very well. Hope that helps! Trust the journey 😊