LAUSR

Key Points Question Compared with the wait list, what is the survival benefit of a living-donor liver transplant for patients with end-stage liver disease based on patients’ Model for End-stage Liver Disease incorporating sodium levels (MELD-Na) score? Findings In this case-control study of 119 275 liver transplant candidates, patients with a MELD-Na score as low as 11 had a 34% decrease in mortality compared with those who remained on the wait list. Patients who received a living-donor liver transplant can expect to gain an additional 13 to 17 years of life compared with those who never received a transplant. Meaning This study’s findings challenge current perceptions regarding when the survival benefit of a living-donor transplant occurs.