blood type/wait

[Guest guest]

I'm not much of a researcher, but I'm sure several out there know this

without looking it up. I keep thinking about it logically, but then

look " on the other hand.... " Does the more common blood type stand a

worse or better chance of receiving a liver than a less common? I'm

not listed yet, but nonetheless I wonder. Thanks

Stuart (Va)

PSC 2001

[Guest guest]

I wonder the same thing. But I don’t

think it matters either way. I think there are just as many needing the

rare as there are coming in with the rare…and just as many coming in with

the common as there are needing the common…but that is just breaking it

down really simply. I think about this all the time. The list is

LONG for O+, which is what Noah is.

But hopefully that should mean there are

more O+ idiots out there riding around without helmets…or others (not

idiots) getting in horrible accidents. (I used to ride on the back of a

motorcycle without a helmet…so I feel like I can talk about myself like

this.) I hope this type of thinking is correct. I am sure if it is

not…someone will (PLEASE DO) speak up.

Mom of Zoe

(13) super soccer player;

Noah (9) UC,

PSC, and osteopenia and a great soccer and basketball player and;

Aidan (5)

moderately-severely hearing impaired great basketball shot (10-foot hoop none-the-less)

I'm not much of a researcher, but I'm sure several out

there know this

without looking it up. I keep thinking about it logically, but then

look " on the other hand.... " Does the more common blood type stand a

worse or better chance of receiving a liver than a less common? I'm

not listed yet, but nonetheless I wonder. Thanks

[Guest guest]

Hi Stuart,

Here are the blood compatibilities listed at:

http://www.livertransplant.org/patientguide/donor.html

The donor must be:

- Approximately the same weight and body size as the recipient

- Free from disease, infection, or injury that affects the liver

- Usually of the same or a compatible blood type (see table below)

BLOOD TYPE COMPATIBILITY CHART

Blood Can receive Generally can

Type liver from: donate a liver to:

O O O, A, B, AB

A A, O A, AB

B B, O B, AB

AB O, A, B, AB AB

The most common blood types are:

http://www.bloodbook.com/type-facts.html

Who Has Which Blood Type?

TYPES DISTRIBUTION RATIOS

O + 1 person in 3 38.4%

O - 1 person in 15 7.7%

A + 1 person in 3 32.3%

A - 1 person in 16 6.5%

B + 1 person in 12 9.4%

B - 1 person in 67 1.7%

AB + 1 person in 29 3.2%

AB - 1 person in 167 0.7%

Please correct me if I am wrong, but I'm assuming that the (+) and (-)

blood types don't factor into the organ donation equation, and so the

population of O's would be 46%, the population of A's would be 39%, the

population of B's would be 11%, and the population of AB's would be 4%.

The rarest blood type (AB) can receive a liver from anyone (O, A, B,

AB), but the most common blood type (O) can receive a liver from only

(0). So an O transplantee would have a 46% chance of receiving a liver,

while an AB transplantee would have a 46 + 39 + 11 + 4 = 100% chance of

receiving a liver. An A transplantee would have an 46 + 39 = 85%

chance, and a B transplantee would have 46 + 11 = 57% chance.

I hope this helps?

Best regards,

Dave

(father of (21); PSC 07/03; UC 08/03)

>

> I'm not much of a researcher, but I'm sure several out there know

this without looking it up. I keep thinking about it logically, but

then look " on the other hand.... " Does the more common blood type

stand a worse or better chance of receiving a liver than a less common?

[Guest guest]

is right is supposing that the Rh factor (+ or -) doesn't matter

in assigning organ transplants. But there are several restrictions in

the liver allocation policy that limit who can get a donated liver.

" Within each MELD/PELD score, donor livers shall be offered to

transplant candidates who are ABO-identical with the donor first, then

to candidates who are ABO-compatible, followed by candidates who are

ABO-incompatible with the donor.

3.6.2.1 Allocation of Blood Type O Donors. With the Exception of

Status 1A and 1B candidates, blood type O donors may only be allocated

to blood type O candidates, or B candidates with a MELD or PELD score

greater than or equal to 30. Any remaining blood type compatible

candidates will appear on the match run list for blood type O donors

after the blood type O and B candidate list has been exhausted at the

regional and national level. "

http://www.unos.org/PoliciesandBylaws2/policies/pdfs/policy_8.pdf

Because some O livers are used for Status 1 and type B candidates,

there is a slight shortfall in the percentage of donated livers

available to type O candidates. On the other hand, because type AB

candidates can be assigned transplants from AB, A or B (and on rare

occasion O) donors they tend to have shorter waiting lists and get

transplanted at lower MELD levels.

Tim R

> >

> > I'm not much of a researcher, but I'm sure several out there know

> this without looking it up. I keep thinking about it logically, but

> then look " on the other hand.... " Does the more common blood type

> stand a worse or better chance of receiving a liver than a less common?

>

[Guest guest]

My doctors actually told me that since I was blood type A+ that I would probably get my transplant pretty quickly (MELD around 25) but I ended up having to wait and my MELD was up to 36 (no exception points) before I got called in. UCLA is big transplant center and supposedly does around 200 liver transplants but I still had to wait over 3 months after reaching that magic number of 25. Pat (CA) Tim Romlein wrote: is right is supposing that the Rh

factor (+ or -) doesn't matterin assigning organ transplants. But there are several restrictions inthe liver allocation policy that limit who can get a donated liver."Within each MELD/PELD score, donor livers shall be offered totransplant candidates who are ABO-identical with the donor first, thento candidates who are ABO-compatible, followed by candidates who areABO-incompatible with the donor. 3.6.2.1 Allocation of Blood Type O Donors. With the Exception ofStatus 1A and 1B candidates, blood type O donors may only be allocatedto blood type O candidates, or B candidates with a MELD or PELD scoregreater than or equal to 30. Any remaining blood type compatiblecandidates will appear on the match run list for blood type O donorsafter the blood type O and B candidate list has been exhausted at theregional and national level."http://www.unos.org/PoliciesandBylaws2/policies/pdfs/policy_8.pdfBecause some O livers are used for Status 1 and type B candidates,there is a slight shortfall in the percentage of donated liversavailable to type O candidates. On the other hand, because type ABcandidates can be assigned transplants from AB, A or B (and on rareoccasion O) donors they tend to have shorter waiting lists and gettransplanted at lower MELD levels.Tim R> >> > I'm not much of a researcher, but I'm sure several out there know > this without looking it up. I keep thinking about it logically, but > then look "on the other hand...." Does the more common blood type > stand a worse or better chance of receiving a liver than a less common?> __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Pat-That gives me hope, my brother is A+. He is going in, well referral in February 2007-so to change the topic, what can we expect in terms of testing and the whole process of evaluation?-Brother, , 30, UC & PSCpat jones wrote: My doctors actually told me that since I was blood type A+ that I would probably get my transplant pretty quickly (MELD around 25) but I ended up having to wait and my MELD was up to 36 (no exception points) before I got called in.

[Guest guest]

Tim and , thank you both so much. It kinda bites that I have the

most common blood type (O+) and will potentially have to wait longer

for a liver. I guess those PSCers that have the rarest blood type

finally have a benefit for being rare (universal recipient). I

honestly say " good for them " . I suppose one potential good thing for

me is that both my parents are O+, and my 5 brothers and sisters told

me to just let them know when I needed part of their liver. The catch

22 I'm thinking about is this: As I hope to keep my own Liver as long

as I can, my 5 siblings (I'm the baby) are steadily aging. I'm 40 now,

and there are 2 or 3 years between each of us. I guess at some point

in the future, they will be dropping off one by one as my potential

live donor.......

Which leads me to another question: How old is too old for a Live

donor? 55 or so? Thanks again.

Stuart (Va)

PSC 2001

[Guest guest]

Can this be right? Because I'm blood type AB, if I ever need a liver I have a 100% chance of getting a liver? It's the best thing I've read in a long time, but it's a little hard to believe. Sounds too good to be true.

Reply-To: To: Subject: Re: blood type/waitDate: Tue, 19 Dec 2006 04:58:14 -0000

Hi Stuart,Here are the blood compatibilities listed at:http://www.livertransplant.org/patientguide/donor.htmlThe donor must be: - Approximately the same weight and body size as the recipient - Free from disease, infection, or injury that affects the liver - Usually of the same or a compatible blood type (see table below) BLOOD TYPE COMPATIBILITY CHARTBlood Can receive Generally canType liver from: donate a liver to: O O O, A, B, AB A A, O A, AB B B, O B, AB AB O, A, B, AB AB The most common blood types are:http://www.bloodbook.com/type-facts.htmlWho Has Which Blood Type? TYPES DISTRIBUTION RATIOSO + 1 person in 3 38.4% O - 1 person in 15 7.7% A + 1 person in 3 32.3% A - 1 person in 16 6.5% B + 1 person in 12 9.4% B - 1 person in 67 1.7% AB + 1 person in 29 3.2% AB - 1 person in 167 0.7%Please correct me if I am wrong, but I'm assuming that the (+) and (-) blood types don't factor into the organ donation equation, and so the population of O's would be 46%, the population of A's would be 39%, the population of B's would be 11%, and the population of AB's would be 4%.The rarest blood type (AB) can receive a liver from anyone (O, A, B, AB), but the most common blood type (O) can receive a liver from only (0). So an O transplantee would have a 46% chance of receiving a liver, while an AB transplantee would have a 46 + 39 + 11 + 4 = 100% chance of receiving a liver. An A transplantee would have an 46 + 39 = 85% chance, and a B transplantee would have 46 + 11 = 57% chance.I hope this helps?Best regards,Dave (father of (21); PSC 07/03; UC 08/03)>> I'm not much of a researcher, but I'm sure several out there know this without looking it up. I keep thinking about it logically, but then look "on the other hand...." Does the more common blood type stand a worse or better chance of receiving a liver than a less common?

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[Guest guest]

Marie, You wrote:> Can this be right? Because I'm blood type AB, if I ever need a liver I have a> 100% chance of getting a liver? It's the best thing I've read in a long time, but> it's a little hard to believe. Sounds too good to be true.It means you can accept a blood type compatible liver from anyone. If you are looking for a living donor, no one is eliminated because of blood type. There may be other hurdles for a donor to cross but blood type isn't one of them.To get a cadaveric liver allocated to you, you must get to the top of the waiting list by having the highest MELD of all those eligible to receive the donated liver.As an example, say there were 4 candidates on the waiting list, 1 each type O, A, B and AB. The O has a MELD of 20, the A a MELD of 23, the B a MELD of 27 and the AB a MELD of 27.If the donated liver is type O it goes to the O candidate. Type O always

goes to O unless there is a B above 30 or status 1's waiting. A, B and AB are not considered even though they all have higher MELDs and are blood type compatible.If the donated liver is type A it goes to the AB candidate. AB's MELD is above A's MELD.If the donated liver is type B it goes to the B candidate. B and AB have the same MELD but B matches the blood type exactly.If the donated liver is type AB it goes to the AB candidate. AB is the only candidate who is blood type compatible.This is a very artificial example because in general the top of the O candidate list has a higher MELD than other blood types and AB generally has the lowest.Tim R __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hey Stuart,

Good question. I'm not sure how much blood type factors into waiting

time. However, I'm an AB+ blood type, and have had 2 transplants (the

first failed after about 8 months, and I got my second on Thanksgiving

day). I waited 8 days to get my first liver, and 5 days to get my

second. Of course, for my first transplant, my MELD was 22, and for

my second, it was in the high 20's (my bilirubin was 41.7). So, with

my MELD and my blood type, I was able to get a liver quick. Just a

personal story to help clarify and answer your question.

A very lucky and thankful PSC'er,

Larry Cohen

(Tx2 11/23/06, Tx1 2/15/06, PSC 10/04, UC 9/04)

[Guest guest]

Now that's what I call a Thanksgiving!

Arne

55 - UC 1977, PSC 2000

Alive and (mostly) well in Minnesota

________________________________

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Larry Cohen

Hey Stuart,

Good question. I'm not sure how much blood type factors into waiting

time. However, I'm an AB+ blood type, and have had 2 transplants (the

first failed after about 8 months, and I got my second on Thanksgiving

day). I waited 8 days to get my first liver, and 5 days to get my

second. Of course, for my first transplant, my MELD was 22, and for

my second, it was in the high 20's (my bilirubin was 41.7). So, with

my MELD and my blood type, I was able to get a liver quick. Just a

personal story to help clarify and answer your question.

A very lucky and thankful PSC'er,

Larry Cohen

(Tx2 11/23/06, Tx1 2/15/06, PSC 10/04, UC 9/04)