MELD & MELD-Na Score Calculator

Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) and MELD-Na scores for cirrhosis prognosis.

For educational and clinical reference. Not a substitute for medical judgment. See the medical disclaimer.
MELD
—
MELD-Na
—
3-month mortality estimate
—

References

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

What is MELD & MELD-Na Score?

The MELD (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) score is a logarithmic formula that quantifies 3-month mortality in patients with advanced liver disease using serum bilirubin, creatinine, and INR. Developed at the Mayo Clinic and validated by Kamath et al. in 2001, it replaced the Child-Pugh score for liver transplant allocation in the United States in 2002. MELD-Na, adopted by UNOS in 2016, incorporates serum sodium to better capture mortality risk in hyponatremic patients. Scores range from 6 to 40, with values ≥15 typically used as the threshold for transplant listing benefit.

How to use

  1. Enter bilirubin (mg/dL), INR, and creatinine (mg/dL); optionally sodium (mEq/L) for MELD-Na.
  2. Check the dialysis box if the patient has had ≥ 2 dialysis sessions in the past 7 days.
  3. MELD, MELD-Na, and 3-month mortality update instantly.

Frequently asked questions

What is the MELD score?

Model for End-Stage Liver Disease — predicts 3-month mortality in patients with chronic liver disease using bilirubin, INR, and creatinine. Used for liver transplant allocation.

MELD vs MELD-Na?

MELD-Na (UNOS 2016) adds serum sodium, improving mortality prediction in hyponatremic cirrhotics. UNOS uses MELD-Na for organ allocation since 2016.

What is the MELD floor/ceiling?

Floor 6, ceiling 40. All lab values < 1 are set to 1 before logarithm; creatinine is capped at 4 (or set to 4 if dialysis ≥ 2× in last 7 days).

When is MELD used?

Liver transplant listing/prioritization, prognosis discussions, and risk stratification before non-transplant surgery in cirrhotics.

Last updated

Powered by maratool