Plasmapheresis Found to Improve Liver Transplant MELD Scores
Seoul, Thursday, 1 May 2025.
Plasmapheresis improves MELD scores in ABO-incompatible liver transplant patients, potentially enhancing pre-transplant strategies and patient outcomes.
Significant Impact on Patient Outcomes
A groundbreaking study from Samsung Medical Center in Seoul has revealed compelling evidence of plasmapheresis effectiveness in liver transplantation. The research, examining 142 recipients between 2018 and 2022, demonstrated that MELD scores decreased from 13 to 11 after plasmapheresis treatment in the study cohort [1]. The findings showed score improvements in over half the patients, with 53.5% experiencing decreased MELD scores, while 28.9% saw increases, and 17.6% maintained their initial scores [1].
Understanding MELD Score Significance
The MELD scoring system, developed by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), serves as a crucial metric in liver transplantation prioritization. The score is calculated using three key laboratory parameters: bilirubin, INR prothrombin time, and creatinine [2]. This scoring system ensures that organ allocation prioritizes patients with the most urgent medical needs, with higher scores typically indicating greater urgency for transplantation [2].
Broader Implications for Transplant Centers
The emergence of this data coincides with significant developments in Asian transplant centers. Major institutions like Samsung Medical Center are advancing therapeutic drug monitoring and endoscopic interventions [3]. These findings are particularly relevant as transplant centers worldwide seek to optimize pre-transplant protocols. The study’s results regarding plasmapheresis effectiveness align with previous research by Maheshwari et al., who observed significant improvements in INR levels among critically ill liver disease patients following therapeutic plasmapheresis [1].
Future Directions and Research
The liver transplant community is actively pursuing further research in this field, as evidenced by upcoming presentations at The Liver Week 2025. Notable among these is research on renal recovery benefits in high-MELD recipients of living donor transplants, scheduled for presentation on May 30, 2025 [4]. These ongoing studies continue to build upon our understanding of factors affecting transplant outcomes and may lead to refined treatment protocols for ABO-incompatible liver transplantation [alert! ‘future research outcomes cannot be predicted with certainty’].