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MELD Score Calculator — Free Online Calculator

Input

mg/dL
mg/dL
mEq/L

MELD Score

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About This Calculator

The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score estimates the severity of chronic liver disease and is used to prioritize patients for liver transplantation. MELD-Na incorporates serum sodium, which improves prognostic accuracy, especially for patients with hyponatremia. The score ranges from 6 to 40.

Formula

MELD = 10 × [0.957 × ln(Cr) + 0.378 × ln(Bilirubin) + 1.120 × ln(INR) + 0.643]
Lab values < 1.0 are set to 1.0; Cr capped at 4.0; Dialysis patients Cr = 4.0
MELD-Na = MELD + 1.32 × (137 − Na) − [0.033 × MELD × (137 − Na)]
Na bounded to 125–137 mEq/L; Final score bounded to 6–40

Interpretation

MELD Score3-Month Mortality
< 10Low (~1.9%)
10 – 19Moderate (~6%)
20 – 29High (~20%)
30 – 39Very high (~50%+)
≥ 40Extremely high (~70%+)

References

  1. Kamath PS, et al. A model to predict survival in patients with end-stage liver disease. Hepatology. 2001;33(2):464-470.
  2. Kim WR, et al. Hyponatremia and mortality among patients on the liver-transplant waiting list. N Engl J Med. 2008;359(10):1018-1026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the MELD score used for?

The MELD (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) score predicts 90-day mortality in patients with chronic liver disease. It is the primary tool used to prioritize organ allocation for liver transplantation in the United States.

What is the difference between MELD and MELD-Na?

MELD-Na incorporates serum sodium into the original MELD formula. Hyponatremia is an independent predictor of mortality in liver disease, so MELD-Na provides better prognostic accuracy. MELD-Na has been used for US liver transplant allocation since 2016.

What MELD score qualifies for liver transplant?

Generally, a MELD score of 15 or higher indicates that transplant provides a survival benefit over continued medical management. Higher scores receive priority on the waitlist. The maximum assignable score is 40.

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⚠ Medical Disclaimer

This tool is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for clinical decisions.