Transplant age limit?

[WendyMarie]

Can anyone tell me what is the cut off age limit for a liver transplant In the US & UK? I was told, by someone that had a liver TP, it was age 69 in the US & age 50 in the UK.

[Hidden]

Hello WendyMarie.

I don't know but I am sure that 50 isn't the cut-off in the UK, think it is higher. Brummie on here said he had transplant so he might know.

[mayday-Yeah in reply to Hidden]

Not sure re cut off age I am in UK . However I know two older people who have had transplants, one is now a good friend and she was 64 I think was 6yrs ago and she is turning 70 this yr. Also a man I know who had one is about 68 he had transplant 8yrs ago. I am currently waiting on one I am 44yrs old. Hope that helps. Happy Easter to all. Xoxo

[shawnabrns in reply to mayday-Yeah]

At what point and what labs do they look at to qualify you for transplant

[FFC75 in reply to Hidden]

I dont beleive it is 50 in UK my consultant told me that if my bloods show things going down hill he will consider trsnaplant list and I am already 53 so hope not

[boneytoys]

sometime ago we were asked by PBC foundation on behalf of a third party to complete a survey of who should get a liver transplant

Im not sure if there ever was an age limit but certainly it involves all sorts of health scenarios around who should get ( an older person versus a young alcoholic etc) in view of the fact that there are "simply not enough to go round"., I live in NZ where there are even less available. Personally I am not going to dwell on it because ultimately the decision is decided by ethics, medical consensus and tissue matching and I say but for that and the grace of god, there go I should the need arise and the stars align....

[Hidden]

I asked my specialist this the other day in the UK and she said up to 70 IF you had general good health in other parts of the body, i.e. Heart etc.

[spoul]

Don't know about US but 70 in uk I was told by my consultant obviously dependent on general health. My friend is currently listed and she is 67! 😃

[allotment]

Hello WendyMarie,

I had a transplant last year when I was 68. I do not think there is any officials cut off age for a transplant but I would assume it is one of the factors taken into account along with general health and well being. Best of luck!

[KD60 in reply to allotment]

just wondering what you go through when you have a transplant. i have heard it is pretty awful with the recovery drugs etc.

[allotment in reply to KD60]

Hi! KD60

I found the preparation and operation was what I expected after reading the extensive litrature I was given by the hospital. Quite a bit of pain, controlled by pain killers which gradually reduced in a few weeks for me. I had hallucinations which I found strange but I must say I did not find the operation and the immediate recovery period was too bad.

I was invited to the hospital on 4 occasions with the first three being cancelled because the donor liver was deemed unsuitable. I became pretty desperate to have the transplant because of my worsening health.

The worse aspect for me was I contracted three hospital borne infections which caused me to be in hospital for over two months. Initially I was going home after three weeks. It was a bad time for me but now I am back to want I would call my normal life and very grateful and happy to be alive. Long live the NHS!

I hope this gives a little insight into a liver transplant but I must say other patients have different experiences. Good luck KD60

[saeedasalma in reply to allotment]

hey just wanted to know how long it took you to heal and completely functional

[derek01]

I'm on the transplant list and am 69

[WendyMarie]

Thanx to everyone for your responses. I am 58 & do not need a TP. I am only curious to the cut off age, since I was told, by someone that had a TP, that even with good health, otherwise, you cannot be on the list in the US, past age 69. I had never thought of this before & it has me wondering. I will ask my hepatologist, & let everyone know what he says about it.

[nancystreit]

My understanding is that there is no definite age limit. It more depends on the physical condition of a person, other concurrent illnesses, strength, etc. It seems to be the same in United States and Europe.

[Brummi]

Hi, I had my transplant at 65 years old. There are a few other things that are considered, your general health and fitness are two. Just before my TX I had inflamation of the pancreas this delayed me being put on the list. When in hospital I heard of some one in their 70s having one.

[Brummi]

Hi, I was 65 when I had my transplant. There are a few other factors also taken in to consideration. Your general health and fitness being two of them. Whilst in hospital I heard of another patient being in there 70s. So it seems to me that age is not a major problem...

[crundalite]

Hi

Having reached end stage PBC I was curious too about TX age etc. I am told by a QE Bham (UK) specialist that age is less important than physical condition. I am 69 and do not need it yet but hope that I will be fit enough when I do. Incidentally there are changes afoot in Wales where i live ibn respect of organ donation. From 2016 (I think) organs can be removed automatically unless you opt OUT not in to donation. This may increase the supply of organs nationally!

[PBCRobert Partner]

As part of the Liver Patients' Transplant Consortium, the PBC Foundation were involved in the process of updating the allocation and distribution systems for transplanting livers in the UK.

Firstly, as ever, there are still not enough donors and each of us can do something to encourage more organ donorship.

With regards to who needs a transplant most, it comes down to what is known as the UKELD score which takes together certain factors and calculates need on that basis. Generally, that system is accurate and works well.

In the US, they use a MELD score.

There are a very small number of circumstances that require special consideration- irretractible itch in PBC is one example.

With regards to age, there is no official policy. It comes down to physical and emotional well-being and fitness to handle the operation. One of the biggest contra-indications is smoking. Because of the statistical impact smoking has on survival times after transplant, I don't think a smoker would be transplanted. (please note this is my observation of practice and not, I believe, official policy)

However, there is never a better time to stop smoking than today.

I hope that helps.

[Hambly1]

Before I was put on the transplant waiting list for QEH Birmingham, one of the other tests was thatI had to have a colonoscopy to check for bowel cancer. I was told this was routine for all PBC patients. If you're given the all clear, which I was, then you are put on the list.

[allotment]

WendyMane,

Had transplant with only few weeks to live at 68yrs. Was told there is no age limit for a liver transplant and it is only one factor to take into account. I was told when I was put on list 14 months before transplant to do your best to keep fit. Despite failing health I did my best and I think it is the best advice I can give to anybody waiting for transplant. I had PBC and after transplant I guess it took about 6 months to get back to some normal life. The importance of keeping as fit as possible is to get over the effects of the operation and regaining strength as soon as possible..

[gwillistexas in reply to allotment]

So happy it worked well for you. A lady at my church was being evaluated for a transplant & we got word today that she was not accepted by Baylor in Dallas. My heart goes out to her.

[bobbycat in reply to gwillistexas]

That is a shame..I have not made the assessment score either..my MELD score was one point too little.

[tealmust in reply to bobbycat]

What is MELD?

[gwillistexas in reply to tealmust]

It is a scoring system used to determine the prognosis with Cirrhosis & the need for transplant.