MELD Score Calculator
Calculate the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, the standard tool used by UNOS to prioritize patients on the liver transplant waiting list. Enter bilirubin, INR, creatinine, and optionally sodium for the updated MELD-Na score used since 2016.
The MELD score was originally developed at the Mayo Clinic in 2001 to predict survival in patients with cirrhosis who were undergoing TIPS procedures. In 2002, UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing) adopted it to replace the older Child-Pugh classification for liver transplant allocation in the United States.
The MELD formula: MELD = 3.78 x ln(bilirubin) + 11.2 x ln(INR) + 9.57 x ln(creatinine) + 6.43
All lab values have a minimum floor of 1.0 (values below 1.0 are set to 1.0). Creatinine is capped at 4.0 mg/dL, and patients on dialysis have creatinine automatically set to 4.0. The final score is bounded between 6 and 40.
MELD-Na: In January 2016, UNOS updated the allocation system to include serum sodium, creating the MELD-Na score. Low sodium (hyponatremia) is common in advanced liver disease and independently predicts mortality. The sodium value is bounded between 125 and 137 mEq/L.
What the scores mean:
- MELD 6-9: About 1.9% chance of dying within 3 months
- MELD 10-19: About 6% three-month mortality
- MELD 20-29: About 19.6% three-month mortality
- MELD 30-39: About 52.6% three-month mortality
- MELD 40: About 71.3% three-month mortality
Higher MELD scores receive priority for available donor livers. Most transplant centers consider listing patients when their MELD score reaches 15 or higher.
This tool is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice.