Meld Score Calculator
Calculate the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, used to prioritize patients for liver transplants. Assesses the severity of chronic liver disease.
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Understanding the MELD Score
The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score is a crucial scoring system used to assess the severity of chronic liver disease. It helps predict the three-month survival probability of a patient and is used by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) to prioritize patients for liver transplantation.
What is the Purpose of the MELD Score?
The primary purpose of the MELD score is to provide an objective, standardized measure of a patient's mortality risk. A higher MELD score indicates more severe liver disease and a greater urgency for a liver transplant.
It is used to:
- Prioritize Patients on the Liver Transplant Waitlist: Patients with higher MELD scores are generally given higher priority.
- Prognosticate Survival: The score correlates with the 90-day mortality risk for patients with end-stage liver disease.
- Guide Treatment Decisions: It can help doctors decide on the timing and aggressiveness of certain medical procedures.
How is the MELD Score Calculated?
The MELD score is calculated using a mathematical formula based on three specific laboratory test results:
- Serum Creatinine (mg/dL): A measure of kidney function. Poor kidney function is common in severe liver disease and is a bad prognostic sign.
- Serum Bilirubin (mg/dL): A measure of how well the liver is clearing bile. A high level causes jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).
- International Normalized Ratio (INR): A measure of the liver's ability to make blood clotting factors. A high INR means the blood is thinner and takes longer to clot.
In recent years, the formula has been updated to include Serum Sodium (Na), as low sodium levels are also associated with increased mortality. The version of the calculator that includes sodium is often referred to as MELD-Na.
The formula is complex and logarithmic, which is why a calculator is essential for accurate and rapid calculation in a clinical setting.
Interpreting MELD Scores
The MELD score can range from 6 (least ill) to 40 (most ill). The score corresponds to an estimated 3-month mortality risk:
- MELD score < 9: ~1.9% mortality risk
- MELD score 10-19: ~6.0% mortality risk
- MELD score 20-29: ~19.6% mortality risk
- MELD score 30-39: ~52.6% mortality risk
- MELD score ≥ 40: ~71.3% mortality risk
These percentages are estimates and actual outcomes can vary based on many other individual factors.
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