This blog covers:
- What are LLTs?
A basic overview of Lowest Level Terms in MedDRA and their role in pharmacovigilance. - Current vs. Non-Current LLTs
Understanding the key differences between active and outdated LLTs. - Why Do These Variations Exist?
The reasons behind having both current and non-current LLTs in MedDRA, and their practical implications.
Table of Contents
Introduction
This blog is part of our ongoing MedDRA Series, where we explore key components of the MedDRA terminology system used in pharmacovigilance.
In this post, we’ll focus on an important topic: Current vs. Non-Current Lowest Level Terms (LLTs). Understanding the distinction between these two categories is essential for accurate medical coding and maintaining data quality in safety reporting.
Lowest Level Terms (LLTs)
Lowest Level Terms (LLTs) represent the most specific level in the MedDRA hierarchy. These terms are used directly during data entry for case processing in pharmacovigilance and are critical for accurately capturing medical concepts reported in clinical studies or post-marketing surveillance.
LLTs are the actual words or phrases—often including synonyms, lexical variants, and common misspellings—that healthcare professionals or patients might use. These are mapped to a Preferred Term (PT) in MedDRA, ensuring standardized classification and analysis.
In summary, LLTs are:
- The most granular MedDRA terms
- Essential for precise and consistent medical coding
- Directly used in safety databases for entering reported medical events
“In pharmacovigilance, precision begins with language—choosing the right MedDRA term is not just coding, it’s ensuring patient safety.”
Current and Non-Current LLTs
If you’re a frequent user of MedDRA and have access to the MedDRA Web-Based Browser (WBB), you’ve likely noticed the distinction between current and non-current LLTs. These differences are clearly marked in the browser and are critical when selecting terms for medical coding.
According to MedDRA conventions and best practices, non-current LLTs should never be used for coding. Here are the key guidelines and principles:
- Always select the Lowest Level Term (LLT) that most accurately reflects the reported verbatim.
- Use only current LLTs for all new data entry.
- Even if a non-current LLT seems to match the verbatim closely, avoid using it.
- The field
llt_currencyin the MedDRA database indicates whether an LLT is current or non-current. - Non-current LLTs are not valid for active term selection.
- Current and non-current LLTs can map to the same Preferred Term (PT).
- Non-current LLTs are retained primarily for legacy conversion or historical data purposes.
- These may include terms that are ambiguous, outdated, vague, truncated, or misspelled.
- Some are derived from other terminologies that don’t comply with MedDRA structure or naming rules.
- They are preserved to support historical data analysis and retrieval.
- Non-current LLTs are no longer maintained or updated in newer MedDRA versions.
- Compare varying non-current LLTs with their current counterparts, with non-current terms highlighted in red for easy identification.
Example:
- Non-current LLT: Drug – alcohol interaction
- Current LLT: Interaction with alcohol
Why This Distinction Matters
- Quality & Consistency: Using only current LLTs ensures consistency in coding and aligns with the latest MedDRA standards.
- Regulatory Compliance: Regulatory bodies expect up-to-date and standardized coding using current terms.
- Reliable Data Retrieval: Accurate LLT usage supports effective aggregation, signal detection, and meaningful safety analysis.
Pro Tip:
If you’re managing a pharmacovigilance database or platform:
- Implement safeguards to flag or block non-current LLT usage.
- Regularly update your MedDRA dictionary (updates are released biannually).
Struggling with MedDRA Coding? Let Our Team Assist You.
Whether you’re working on clinical trials, safety reports, or regulatory submissions, accurate MedDRA coding is essential. If you need expert assistance or want to streamline your coding process, our team is here to help.
Let’s ensure your data speaks the right language.
Conclusion
This concise guide sheds light on a crucial yet often overlooked detail in MedDRA coding: the difference between current and non-current LLTs. By understanding and applying this distinction, you ensure higher quality data, maintain compliance, and support robust pharmacovigilance practices.
We’d love to hear your thoughts—feel free to share your feedback or suggest topics you’d like us to cover in future posts. If you found this content useful, don’t hesitate to share it with your colleagues and friends in the field.
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