The efficacy of two models – MEAF and pMELD, as indicators of lethal outcome in early postoperative period after liver transplantation in children

Abstract

The current study is aiming to prove the effectiveness and compare “Model for Early Allograft Function” (MEAF) and “postoperative Model for End-stage Liver Disease” (pMELD) in the early posttransplant setting in children. Methods. We did a retrospective study on 43 liver transplant patients for a 17-year period between the ages 0 – 18 years. MEAF and pMELD were calculated on the third and fifth postoperative day, respectively, and a Cox regression analysis was performed to find the correlation between them and mortality in the early postoperative period (EPOP). Results. Both scores proved to be statistically significant and applicable in EPOP. MEAF had P value of 0.0003 and a hazard ratio of 10.99, while pMELD demonstrated P value of 0.003 and a hazard ratio of 1.24. Conclusions. Both MEAF and pMELD can be used for the diagnostics of early allograft dysfunction and predicting the outcome of the transplantation, with MEAF having the upper hand.