liminfoMELD Score Calculator
Free web tool: MELD Score Calculator
MELD Score
6
MELD-Na
6
3-Month Mortality
~1.9%
Transplant Priority
Low
MELD Score for end-stage liver disease. Clinical reference only.
About MELD Score Calculator
The MELD Score Calculator computes both the standard MELD (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) score and the refined MELD-Na score directly in your browser. MELD is a validated prognostic scoring system used by transplant centers worldwide — including UNOS in the United States — to rank patients on the liver transplant waiting list by urgency. It is based on three laboratory values: total bilirubin, INR (International Normalized Ratio), and serum creatinine.
MELD-Na extends the standard score by incorporating serum sodium, which independently predicts 90-day mortality in cirrhotic patients with ascites. The formula adds a sodium correction term to the capped MELD score: MELD-Na = MELD + 1.32 × (137 − Na) − (0.033 × MELD × (137 − Na)). Both sodium and MELD values are clamped to physiologically meaningful ranges (Na: 125–137 mEq/L; MELD: 6–40) per official guidelines.
This tool also supports dialysis adjustment: if a patient has undergone dialysis at least twice in the past week, creatinine is automatically set to 4.0 mg/dL as specified by the OPTN/UNOS policy, which prevents underestimation of renal dysfunction severity. Based on the final MELD-Na score, the calculator provides an approximate 3-month mortality estimate and a transplant priority category (Low, Moderate, High, or Urgent) for quick clinical reference.
Key Features
- Calculates standard MELD score using the official log-based formula: 10 × (0.957 × ln(Cr) + 0.378 × ln(Bili) + 1.120 × ln(INR) + 0.643)
- Calculates MELD-Na score incorporating serum sodium correction per OPTN guidelines
- Dialysis adjustment: auto-sets creatinine to 4.0 mg/dL for patients dialyzed 2+ times in the past week
- MELD clamped to 6–40 range and sodium clamped to 125–137 mEq/L per official scoring rules
- Displays 3-month mortality estimate based on published MELD-Na mortality tables
- Shows transplant priority category: Low, Moderate, High, or Urgent
- 100% client-side — patient lab values never leave the browser
- Real-time calculation updates as each input value changes
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MELD score used for?
The MELD score is the primary tool used by transplant centers (including UNOS in the US) to allocate donor livers. Patients with higher MELD scores have more severe liver disease and a greater short-term risk of death without transplantation, so they receive higher priority on the waiting list.
What inputs does the MELD score require?
The standard MELD score requires three lab values: total bilirubin (mg/dL), INR (International Normalized Ratio for prothrombin time), and serum creatinine (mg/dL). MELD-Na additionally requires serum sodium (mEq/L). All values should be the most recent laboratory results.
Why is MELD-Na considered more accurate than standard MELD?
Multiple studies showed that hyponatremia (low sodium) is an independent risk factor for 90-day mortality in cirrhosis with ascites, even after controlling for MELD. Patients with the same MELD score but lower sodium have significantly higher mortality. UNOS incorporated sodium into the allocation formula in 2016 precisely because MELD-Na better stratifies transplant urgency.
How does the dialysis checkbox affect the score?
OPTN/UNOS policy specifies that if a patient has received dialysis at least twice in the seven days prior to the MELD calculation, their creatinine value should be set to 4.0 mg/dL regardless of the actual lab value. This prevents underestimation of renal dysfunction severity in patients whose creatinine may be artificially lowered by dialysis clearance.
What does the minimum MELD score of 6 mean?
The MELD formula can theoretically produce negative values for patients with very normal lab results. UNOS established a floor of 6 to ensure that all listed patients have a minimum score, which prevents the formula from suggesting negative mortality risk. The maximum cap of 40 is set because mortality risk above MELD 40 is essentially the same (very high).
How accurate are the 3-month mortality estimates?
The mortality percentages shown are derived from published cohort studies of MELD-Na score ranges. They represent population-level estimates, not individual predictions. Actual outcomes depend on many factors including etiology of liver disease, complications, center experience, and availability of a suitable donor. Always consult a hepatologist for clinical decisions.
Can this calculator be used for children?
No. The MELD score applies to patients aged 12 and older. For pediatric patients (under 12), PELD (Pediatric End-Stage Liver Disease) score is used instead, which incorporates albumin, bilirubin, INR, growth failure, and age under 1 year. A separate calculator is needed for PELD.
Is this a substitute for medical advice?
No. This tool is intended for educational and clinical reference purposes only. Official MELD scores for transplant allocation must be calculated and entered by qualified medical personnel through certified transplant center systems. Always rely on verified clinical systems and qualified healthcare professionals for actual patient management decisions.