Calculator

MELD Calculator (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease.)

The MELD Calculator is a critical tool for evaluating the urgency of liver transplants in adult patients. It calculates a numerical score to prioritize candidates based on their health status. The score ranges from 1 to 40, where higher scores indicate greater urgency for a transplant. The MELD system also predicts 90-day mortality rates, offering insights into the likelihood of survival without a liver transplant.

Blood test results
Using the original formula

MELD Score -

Mortality -

Using the improved formula

MELD Score -

Mortality -

How to Use the MELD Calculator

To calculate your MELD score, you need recent blood test results for the following parameters:

  • Bilirubin (mg/dL) – Indicates liver function and bile metabolism.
  • Creatinine (mg/dL) – Reflects kidney function; set to 4 mg/dL if on dialysis.
  • INR – Measures blood clotting efficiency.
  • Sodium (mmol/L) – Serum sodium level, capped between 125 and 137 mmol/L.

Input these values into the calculator, which uses either the original or the improved formula (introduced in 2016) to compute your MELD score.

What's a Healthy or Unhealthy MELD Score?

The MELD score categorizes the urgency of a liver transplant and predicts mortality risk over 90 days:

  • ≤9 1.9% mortality – Low urgency.
  • 10-19: 6.0% mortality – Moderate urgency.
  • 20-29: 19.6% mortality – High urgency.
  • 30-39: 52.6% mortality – Very high urgency.
  • 40: 71.3% mortality – Critical urgency.

Scores above 20 often require immediate medical attention and prioritization for liver transplantation.

MELD Score Formula:

There are actually two formulas for estimating the MELD score. The original one is still used in non-US transplant societies. The new, improved formula was introduced in January 2016 to include the serum sodium level.

The original formula is:
MELDScore = 10 × [(0.957× ln(Creatinine)) + (0.378 × ln(Bilirubin)) + (1.12 × ln(INR))] + 6.43

The MELD score equation that incorporates sodium level based on this formula and is:
MELDScore (2016) = MELDScore + 1.32 × (137 - sodium) - 0.033 × MELDScore × (137 - sodium)

Laboratory Tests Required:

  • Creatinine: Normal range: 0.6-1.2 mg/dL (men), 0.5-1.1 mg/dL (women).
  • Bilirubin: Normal range: 0.3-1.0 mg/dL.
  • INR: Normal range: 1.0-1.5.
  • Sodium: Normal range: 125-137 mmol/L.

Why Use This Calculator?

  • Prioritization for Transplant: Helps physicians determine the urgency of a liver transplant.
  • Mortality Prediction: Offers a 90-day survival probability based on current health parameters.
  • Guidance for Treatment: Supports clinical decisions by identifying critical health risks.
  • Standardized Assessment: Provides a universally accepted method to compare patient conditions.