About the MELD Calculator

The MELD Calculator, or Model for End-Stage Liver Disease, is a crucial tool for assessing the severity of chronic liver disease. It plays a vital role in determining the prognosis of patients, particularly those awaiting liver transplants. Originally developed for allocation of donor organs, the MELD score’s primary function is to predict mortality risk in patients with advanced liver disease.

With high search interest and vital application, understanding the MELD score can aid in better management of liver health, providing clarity to patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals alike.

How to Use the MELD Calculator

Using the MELD calculator requires specific input values. You will need to provide:

• Serum bilirubin level (in mg/dL)
• Serum creatinine level (in mg/dL)
• INR (International Normalized Ratio) for prothrombin time

Once you have these values, you can enter them into the MELD formula to obtain the score. The resultant score will guide clinical decisions and management plans tailored to individual patient needs.

MELD Formula

The formula for calculating the MELD score is as follows:

MELD Score = 0.957 × ln(Serum Bilirubin) + 0.378 × ln(Serum Creatinine) + 1.120 × ln(INR) + 0.643

Note: The logarithm function (ln) is applied to the serum bilirubin, serum creatinine, and INR values. If any value is 0, the score should be input as a minimum value (typically 1) to avoid calculation