Prospective validation of a noninvasive index for predicting liver fibrosis in hepatitis C virus-infected liver transplant recipients.

We previously developed a mathematical model, the Hospital Universitario La Fe (HULF) index, as an alternative to protocol liver biopsy (PLB) to estimate significant fibrosis (SF) in patients who underwent liver transplantation (LT) for liver damage caused by chronic HCV infection. In the present study, we sought to validate this noninvasive index. The commonly derived clinical and laboratory data for calculating the HULF index were prospectively collected over 2.

[Candidate selection for liver transplantation].

Liver transplantation is the treatment of choice in acute and irreversible chronic liver failure of distinct etiologies. Because of the current shortage of donor organs, careful selection of candidates for transplantation is required. In addition to specific prognostic models, there are general models, such as the Child-Pugh classification and the MELD system, which are useful in determining the optimal timing of liver transplantation in most patients with cirrhosis.