MELD Score Calculator

MELD Score Calculator

How to Use MELD Score Calculator

1. Step 1: Enter labs from one report

   Add total bilirubin, INR, creatinine, and sodium from the same blood draw for consistency.

2. Step 2: Pick units if needed

   Switch bilirubin or creatinine between mg/dL and µmol/L. Values convert automatically for scoring.

3. Step 3: Set dialysis status

   If you had dialysis at least twice in the last 7 days, toggle Yes so creatinine is set to 4.0 mg/dL.

4. Step 4: Calculate & review MELD‑Na

   Tap Calculate to see MELD (classic), MELD‑Na, and a 90‑day mortality band with the numbers used.

5. Step 5: Discuss next steps

   Use the result to guide conversation with your clinician; do not self‑diagnose or change treatment.

Key Features

• MELD and MELD‑Na scoring
• 90‑day mortality band
• Dialysis rule handling
• Inputs: Bilirubin, INR, Creatinine, Sodium
• Unit toggles (mg/dL ↔ µmol/L)

Understanding Results

How to interpret MELD score calculator results

Use this MELD score calculator to frame a discussion, not a decision. The result summarizes risk over the next 90 days. If your number feels unexpectedly high or low, recheck units, confirm that all labs came from the same draw, and speak with your care team. Our MELD calculator notes below explain why dialysis and sodium can shift MELD‑Na.

Formula

The classic MELD equation uses three common labs and natural logarithms: total bilirubin (mg/dL), INR, and serum creatinine (mg/dL). The formula is 3.78 × ln(bilirubin) + 11.2 × ln(INR) + 9.57 × ln(creatinine) + 6.43. To stabilize the math, values less than 1.0 are set to 1.0 before taking the log. Creatinine is capped at 4.0 mg/dL, and if the patient had dialysis at least twice within the past 7 days, the creatinine term is set to 4.0 mg/dL by rule.

MELD‑Na adjusts the MELD score for hyponatremia: MELD‑Na = MELD + 1.32 × (137 − Na) − 0.033 × MELD × (137 − Na) with sodium clamped between 125–137 mEq/L. Final scores are rounded to whole numbers and typically reported between 6 and 40.

Reference Ranges & Interpretation

Higher scores indicate greater short‑term mortality risk and can raise transplant priority. As a simple orientation, 90‑day mortality risk is often described in bands: MELD 6–9 ≈ 1–2%, 10–19 ≈ 6%, 20–29 ≈ 20%, 30–39 ≈ 53%, and ≥40 ≈ 71%. These are generalized cohort estimates; individual risk depends on diagnosis, trends, complications, and care setting.

MELD‑Na better reflects the increased risk associated with low sodium in cirrhosis. Two people with the same MELD can differ meaningfully in 90‑day outcomes if one has significant hyponatremia; MELD‑Na helps account for that.

Assumptions & Limitations

MELD is a risk estimate and not a diagnosis. Scores depend on accurate labs drawn around the same time and interpreted within your clinical picture. Acute events, medications (e.g., anticoagulants affecting INR), hemolysis, or lab interference can shift results. Always review numbers and next steps with your clinician; do not self‑diagnose or change treatment based on this tool.

Complete Guide: MELD Score Calculator

Use our MELD score calculator (MELD‑Na) to estimate 90‑day mortality and transplant priority from bilirubin, INR, creatinine, and sodium. Mobile‑friendly.

The goal of this meld score calculator is practical: make it fast to enter the labs you already have and just as fast to read them in context. You will see MELD (classic), MELD‑Na, the numbers used in the equation, and a simple risk band to anchor the discussion with your care team. This guide explains how the equation works in plain language, what affects accuracy, and how to use the score without over‑interpreting a single snapshot.

What the MELD score measures

MELD stands for Model for End‑Stage Liver Disease. It is a composite score derived from three routine blood tests—total bilirubin, INR, and serum creatinine— that together estimate short‑term mortality risk in advanced chronic liver disease. The score was designed to be objective and reproducible across centers: anyone with the same labs produces the same MELD number. In current practice, a version that adds serum sodium (MELD‑Na) is widely used, because low sodium (hyponatremia) signals worse circulatory function in decompensated cirrhosis and correlates with outcomes.

A higher MELD or MELD‑Na usually means a higher risk of complications and a greater urgency for specialized care, including transplant evaluation where appropriate. That said, the number is not a diagnosis by itself. It is a risk estimate that should be read alongside your symptoms, imaging, cause of liver disease, trends over time, and a clinician’s assessment.

The formula in plain English

The classic equation uses natural logarithms of each input. In simple terms, it balances three signals:

• Bilirubin reflects how well bile flows and is processed by the liver. Higher bilirubin increases the score.
• INR reflects the blood’s tendency to clot. A higher INR usually means the liver is making fewer clotting factors.
• Creatinine reflects kidney function, which strongly affects outcomes in advanced liver disease.

The equation is 3.78 × ln(bilirubin) + 11.2 × ln(INR) + 9.57 × ln(creatinine) + 6.43, with stabilizing rules: values below 1.0 are set to 1.0 so the logarithm behaves well; creatinine has an upper cap of 4.0 mg/dL; and for people who had dialysis at least twice in the last 7 days, creatinine is set to 4.0 mg/dL for scoring. The result is rounded and usually reported between 6 and 40.

Why MELD‑Na adds sodium

Sodium often drops in decompensated cirrhosis due to circulatory changes and water retention. That low sodium (hyponatremia) predicts complications, so the MELD‑Na equation adjusts the MELD number by a factor that depends on how far sodium sits below 137 mEq/L. In practice, sodium is clamped between 125 and 137 for the calculation to avoid extreme swings from transient outliers. Two people with the same MELD can have different MELD‑Na if one has low sodium, which better reflects near‑term risk.

Units and conversions

In the U.S., bilirubin and creatinine are often reported in mg/dL. Some labs elsewhere use µmol/L. This tool lets you switch each input: bilirubin converts using mg/dL = µmol/L ÷ 17.104 and creatinine converts using mg/dL = µmol/L ÷ 88.4. INR is unitless. Serum sodium is entered in mEq/L (mmol/L is numerically equivalent for sodium in most lab reports).

If you are looking at a broader panel of liver‑related tests, you may find these tools helpful as companions: Liver Function Calculator (AST/ALT, APRI, FIB‑4), AST/ALT Ratio, and Child‑Pugh Score for a descriptive snapshot of decompensation. For kidney context around creatinine, see the Kidney Function Calculator.

Reading your result

The result card shows MELD‑Na (and MELD if sodium is missing), along with a color‑coded band based on broad 90‑day mortality estimates used in many clinical discussions. These bands are a communication tool, not a personal prediction. A single number can look “high” or “low” depending on the disease course: a quick rise from 12 to 18 over a few weeks is different from a stable 18 for months. Your team will also weigh symptoms (ascites, encephalopathy), infection, kidney function, nutrition, imaging, and your underlying diagnosis.

MELD‑Na influences transplant allocation, but transplant decisions involve more than a single score. If your number is rising or you have frequent complications, ask whether referral to a liver transplant center is appropriate and how to prepare while continuing day‑to‑day care.

What can affect accuracy

The score is only as good as the inputs. Collect labs from the same draw where possible. Seemingly small details can shift results:

• Anticoagulants and certain antibiotics can elevate INR beyond liver‑synthetic function alone.
• Acute kidney injury can transiently raise creatinine. Dialysis timing matters for the “dialysis rule.”
• Lab hemolysis or sample handling can distort bilirubin measurements.
• Sodium can fluctuate with hydration and diuretics; MELD‑Na clamps extreme values to avoid outsized influence.

Because MELD and MELD‑Na are logarithmic, very low values (below 1.0) are stabilized at 1.0 before calculation. This avoids math artifacts and keeps the score interpretable. If your labs change unexpectedly, repeat measurements and clinical context matter more than a single snapshot.

Next steps and tracking

Use the score to organize a clear conversation with your clinician: how does today’s number compare with prior results? Are there reversible triggers for changes (infection, bleeding, medication adjustments)? What is the plan for monitoring, ascites management, encephalopathy prevention, nutrition, and vaccinations? If transplant evaluation is relevant, ask about timelines and practical checklists.

Many people like to keep a simple record of dates and scores. Re‑calculate after new labs rather than daily—trends across weeks and months are more useful than day‑to‑day noise. For a broader labs context, revisit the Liver Function Calculator and Kidney Function Calculator after follow‑up tests. You can also browse the full list of tools on our Calculators index or the Health Monitoring & Labs category.

Helpful related calculators

These pages pair well with MELD when you want more context or you’re preparing for a clinic visit:

• Child‑Pugh Calculator — descriptive staging of decompensation.
• Liver Function Calculator — AST/ALT ratio, APRI, FIB‑4.
• AST/ALT Ratio — quick De Ritis index with notes.
• Kidney Function Calculator — eGFR context around creatinine.
• Hydration Calculator — general hydration guidance (non‑medical).

References

These links are provided for general background and do not replace care from your medical team:

• OPTN/UNOS — organ allocation policies and MELD/MELD‑Na guidance.
• NCBI Bookshelf — overviews of cirrhosis complications and scoring systems.
• CDC — general health information and vaccination schedules.

This guide is informational and not medical advice. Always confirm numbers and next steps with your clinician.

Frequently Asked Questions