LIVING HEALTHY FAMILY & PREGNANCY NEWS & EXPERTS MOBILE APPS SUBSCRIBE TO FREE NEWSLETTERS SIGN IN SIGN UP UNDERSTANDING LIVING-DONOR LIVER TRANSPLANT SURGERY Sponsor content from Living-Donor Liver Transplants Save Lives If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with liver disease and needs—or will need—a liver transplant, don't wait. There are more than 11,500 Americans on the waiting list for a liver transplant, and the wait for a deceased donor transplant could take years. Unfortunately, about 20% of people on the liver transplant waiting list die while waiting. During a living-donor liver transplant, a healthy adult donates a portion of their liver to someone with end-stage liver disease or liver cancer. Following the transplant, the donor's liver will regenerate, or grow back, in a few months. Living-donor liver transplants can reduce the amount of time spent on the transplant waiting list and allow patients to receive a transplant sooner. Other benefits include: Little or no wait time. Once a patient has identified a suitable living donor, the surgery can be scheduled at a time that is convenient for both people. Quicker recovery time. Both the recipient and donor often return to their normal, active lives within weeks to months following living-donor transplant. Improved long-term outcomes. Because the donor's liver is functioning up until the time of transplant, the recipient can benefit from improved long-term outcomes and a quicker recovery. Who is a Candidate? At the UPMC Liver Transplant Program, we consider each person referred to our program. Whether they suffer from traditional or complex liver conditions or various types of liver cancer, we are committed to providing liver transplant services to anyone who will benefit, including those who are high-risk and have been turned down for a transplant at another center. A candidate for liver transplant may suffer from any of these liver conditions: Hepatitis C Hepatitis B Alcoholic liver disease Non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis or fatty liver disease Primary liver cancers Primary biliary cirrhosis Autoimmune hepatitis Primary sclerosing cholangitis Acute liver disease from toxins including Acetaminophen/Tylenol Alpha 1 Antityrpsin deficiency A failed prior liver transplant Polycystic disease Hemochromatosis Veno-occlusive disease Wilson’s disease Living-donor liver transplant also is an option for patients with advanced liver cancer. Living donation provides a life-sustaining treatment option for patients diagnosed with various types of cancer who have exhausted all other treatment options and may not qualify for a deceased donor transplant. Experts at UPMC perform living-donor liver transplant for: Unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer Hepatocellular carcinoma Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma or mixed cholangio/hepatocellular carcinoma Hilar cholangiocarcinoma Unresectable neuroendocrine tumor Living-Donor Liver Transplant for Patients with Low MELD Scores The Model for End Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score ranges from six to 40 and is based on results from several lab tests. The higher the patient's MELD score, the more likely they are to receive a liver transplant once an organ becomes available. It estimates a patient's chances of surviving their disease over the next three months. For many patients, the MELD score may not accurately represent how sick they really are. Ongoing symptoms of liver disease such as loss of weight and muscle mass, ascites, and a buildup of fluid in the limbs can reduce a patient’s quality of life and, in some cases, may be life-threatening. For patients with low MELD scores, living-donor liver transplant is an option. By identifying a living donor, patients can reduce their time on the transplant waiting list and receive a transplant sooner. If you would like to be evaluated for a liver transplant or are interested in registering as a potential living donor, call 844-257-9852 , or complete the form below. Register below to become a donor or to be evaluated for a liver transplant. IMPORTANT: WebMD and UPMC respect your privacy choices. By completing the form below you will transfer your information to UPMC and its designated parties in order to fulfill your request. UPMC and its designated parties will use your information as outlined in the UPMC Privacy Policy. Entry of the below information indicates your agreement with the Terms of Use. Learn more about living-donor transplants at UPMC. © 2018 UPMC WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service, or treatment. From WebMD More on Living-Donor Liver Transplants What Is Living Liver Donation? Sponsor Content Living-Donor Liver Transplants Save Lives Who Can Give One? What to Know if You Need a Liver Steps to Prep for the Operation What It’s Like to Receive One Benefits and Risks for Donor and Recipient A Donor's Recovery Timeline Steps to Prep for the Operation Find WebMD on: Facebook Twitter Pintrest AdChoices About WebMD Advertise With Us Terms of Use Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Editorial Policy Contact Us ©2005-2019 WebMD LLC. All rights reserved. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information. Your Choice On Cookies We and our partners store and/or access information on a device, such as unique IDs in cookies to process personal data. You may accept or manage your choices by clicking below, including your right to object where legitimate interest is used, or at any time in the privacy policy page. 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