- Patients with a clinical diagnosis of cirrhosis Age greater than or equal to 18 years MELD score less than or equal to 12 able to provide informed consent HIV and HBsAg seronegative Platelet count >50,000, WBC count > 2,000 No history of malignancy within the last 5 years, except for non-melanoma skin cancer or cervical carcinoma in situ No lesions suspicious for liver cancer on CT and/or MRI within prior 4 months