Am J Transplant. 2021 Aug 17. doi: 10.1111/ajt.16803. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Liver allocation was updated on 02/04/2020, replacing a Donor Service Area (DSA) with acuity circles (AC). The impact on waitlist outcomes for patients listed for combined liver-intestine transplantation (multivisceral transplantation [MVT]) remains unknown. The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network/United Network for Organ Sharing database was used to identify all candidates listed for both liver and intestine between 01/01/2018 and 03/05/2021. Two eras were defined: pre-AC (2018-2020) and post-AC (2020-2021). Outcomes included 90-day waitlist mortality and transplant probability. A total of 127 adult and 104 pediatric MVT listings were identified. In adults, the 90-day waitlist mortality was not statistically significantly different, but transplant probability was lower post-AC. After risk-adjustment, post-AC was associated with a higher albeit not statistically significantly different mortality hazard (sub-distribution hazard ratio[sHR]:8.45,95%CI:0.96-74.05;p=0.054), but a significantly lower transplant probability (sHR:0.33,95%CI:0.15-0.75;p=0.008). For pediatric patients, waitlist mortality and transplant probability were similar between eras. The proportion of patients who underwent transplant with exception points was lower post-AC both in adult (44% to 9%;p=0.04) and pediatric recipients (65% to 15%;p=0.002). A lower transplant probability observed in adults listed for MVT may ultimately result in increased waitlist mortality. Efforts should be taken to ensure equitable organ allocation in this vulnerable patient population.
PMID:34403552 | DOI:10.1111/ajt.16803
