Mayo Risk Score (Primary Biliary Cholangitis)
Enter the patient values below to calculate the classic Mayo Risk Score for PBC. Use lab values in the units shown.
Educational use only. This calculator does not replace clinical judgment, specialist assessment, or emergency care.
What is the Mayo Risk Score?
The Mayo Risk Score is a clinical prognostic model commonly used in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), formerly called primary biliary cirrhosis. It combines age, bilirubin, albumin, prothrombin time, and edema status into a single number that reflects disease severity.
In practice, a higher score generally indicates a worse prognosis and may support decisions around follow-up intensity, referral timing, and transplant discussion. The score is best interpreted by a hepatologist in context with symptoms, imaging, trends in labs, and treatment response.
Formula used by this calculator
This page uses the classic Mayo model equation for PBC:
- Age in years
- Bilirubin in mg/dL
- Prothrombin time in seconds
- Albumin in g/dL
- Edema coded as 0, 0.5, or 1
How to use this Mayo risk score calculator
1) Confirm unit accuracy
Incorrect units are the most common source of bad outputs. Double-check bilirubin is in mg/dL and albumin is in g/dL before calculating.
2) Use current, reliable labs
Prognostic tools are most useful when values are recent and measured by a certified lab. Old or incomplete data can make the score less meaningful.
3) Interpret trends, not only one value
A single score is a snapshot. Serial scores over time often provide more useful clinical insight than one isolated calculation.
General interpretation guide
There are no universally fixed category cutoffs for every clinical setting. As a practical educational guide:
- Lower score: generally better projected outlook
- Middle range: moderate risk; monitor trends and treatment response closely
- Higher score: greater concern for advanced disease and poorer prognosis
This website provides a rough interpretation band to make the output easier to read, but it should not be treated as a standalone treatment rule.
Worked example
Suppose a 55-year-old patient has bilirubin 3.0 mg/dL, albumin 3.2 g/dL, prothrombin time 15.0 s, and edema coded 0.5. Entering these values produces a single Mayo Risk Score that can be compared with future visits to evaluate disease trajectory.
Important limitations
- This model was developed in specific patient populations and may not perfectly fit every individual today.
- It does not include every relevant factor (for example, symptoms, imaging progression, complications, or treatment adherence).
- It should not be used by itself to make urgent decisions.
- Clinical context and specialist judgment remain essential.
When to seek care urgently
Seek urgent medical attention for confusion, vomiting blood, black stools, severe jaundice progression, severe abdominal swelling, shortness of breath, or significant new weakness. These can indicate serious complications that require immediate evaluation.
Frequently asked questions
Is this calculator diagnostic?
No. It is prognostic support for known disease context, not a diagnostic test.
Can I use it for conditions other than PBC?
Not reliably. Different liver diseases often require different risk models. Use disease-specific tools and specialist guidance.
Why does edema have values like 0.5?
The original model uses edema as an ordinal severity variable. The middle value (0.5) captures controlled or partially treated edema states.
Should I track score changes over time?
Yes, trend analysis is often more useful than a one-time number. Always review results with your clinician.