support for PSCer and liver transplant recipient

Hi,

I would like to tell you a few words about my story and kindly ask for your opinion. I have had problems with my liver for about 7 years which I figured up by having ache in my upper-right hand side just behind my ribs. At that time my blood tests showed that I had incresed values mainly for ALAT, ASPAT, GGTP and alcaline phosphatase. Since that days I've been tried to be diagnosed which finally ensued 4 years ago when a liver biopsy proved fibrosis of 3rd degree and got diagnosed with PSC + IBD. I was told and later on read about this that they often come in pair. Currently my GGTP is about 350, ALAT=125-150[U/L], ASPAT=59-70[U/L], BIL=1.45-1.93[mg/dL], ALP=483-586[U/l] and I've been evaluated to have a MELD score of 11. My doctors say I will not be able to enter a waiting list for a liver transplant until after it reaches 15. Could you tell me if this value is an internationally respected threshold or rather locally established for a country or medical center? I'm being cured with Ursofalk (for PSC) and Salofalk(for IBD). Do you think there is anything else I can take that would help in my treatment?

I would appreciate all your suggestions and involvement.

Regards,
Paul.

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

this sounds like appropriate treatment.  You should regular screening for bile duct cancer as well as colon cancer screening.  also, you should have a bone density test.

[skyeweaver]

Thank you very much for your reply, dr Schiano.
I wonder if you could possibly tell me if the MELD scores are considered as high enough to perform a liver transplant according to any standard international tresholds or are the threshold values set up in each country on their own?

Thank you in advance,
Best Regards!
Paul

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

i think the MELD allocation system is the same for all nations with only minimal differences