MELD Score Calculator: Assessing Liver Disease Severity
The MELD (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) score is used worldwide to prioritise liver transplant waiting lists and to assess short-term mortality risk in people with cirrhosis and acute liver failure. This calculator uses the MELD-Na version, which includes sodium for improved predictive accuracy.
What MELD Measures
MELD combines three routine lab values — bilirubin, INR, and creatinine — that collectively reflect how severely the liver and kidneys are failing:
- Bilirubin: A waste product the liver processes — elevated levels indicate liver dysfunction.
- INR: A measure of blood clotting — the liver makes clotting factors, so a high INR indicates poor liver synthetic function.
- Creatinine: Reflects kidney function — advanced liver disease often impairs kidney function (hepatorenal syndrome).
- Sodium: Hyponatremia (low sodium) is common in advanced cirrhosis and worsens prognosis.
Calculate the MELD-Na score with our MELD Score Calculator.
MELD Score and Mortality Risk
| MELD Score | 3-Month Mortality (approximate) |
| Below 10 | <5% |
| 10–19 | ~10–20% |
| 20–29 | ~25–50% |
| 30–39 | ~50–70% |
| 40+ | >70% |
Clinical Use
- Organ allocation: Patients with higher MELD scores receive higher transplant priority.
- Prognosis discussion: Guides conversations about treatment options, palliation, and goals of care.
- Monitoring: Trend in MELD over time (stable, improving, or worsening) guides management intensity.
Final Thoughts
The MELD score translates complex liver disease severity into a single actionable number used by hepatologists and transplant centers worldwide.
Calculate the MELD-Na score with our free MELD Score Calculator.
For informational and educational use only. MELD scores must be interpreted by a hepatologist in the context of the full clinical picture.