MELD Score (Original, Pre-2016, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease)
MELD Score (Original) Calculator
Dialysis (at least twice in the past week)
mg/dL
mg/dL
mEq/L
MELD Score:
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Quantifies end-stage liver disease for transplant planning.
Why Use
MELD is the standard used by the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) and determines who is the highest priority to receive liver transplants in the US.
When to Use
Determines prognosis and prioritizes receipt of liver transplantation.
Formula
Original MELD Score = (0.957*ln(Serum Cr) + 0.378*ln(Serum Bilirubin) + 1.120*ln(INR) + 0.643 )*10 (if hemodialysis, value for Creatinine is automatically set to 4.0) Note: If any score is <1, the MELD assumes the score is equal to 1. This is the pre-2016 MELD which does not include serum sodium level, as non-US transplant societies are still using the original MELD formula. See the newer MELD formula here.
Pearls / Pitfalls
The MELD was updated in January 2016 and now includes serum sodium level. It is preferable to using the calculator to calculate the MELD as there are several caveats relating to minimum and maximum values assigned in the MELD. Values should be no more than 48 hours old.
Advice
The MELD score helps to estimate prognosis for patients with end-stage liver disease, and is used to prioritize transplant recipients.