MELD / MELD-Na Calculator
Use this tool to estimate MELD and MELD-Na scores from common lab values.
What is a MELD calculadora?
A meld calculadora is a tool that estimates liver disease severity using standard lab values. MELD stands for Model for End-Stage Liver Disease. It was originally designed to predict short-term survival risk in patients with advanced liver disease and is now widely used in transplant medicine.
The MELD-Na version includes sodium because low sodium can signal worse outcomes in cirrhosis. Together, MELD and MELD-Na help clinicians prioritize care and discuss urgency, though they should always be interpreted in context.
Inputs used in this calculator
- Bilirubin: reflects how well the liver processes bile pigments.
- INR: reflects blood clotting function, which depends on liver-produced proteins.
- Creatinine: reflects kidney function, highly relevant in advanced liver disease.
- Sodium (for MELD-Na): low sodium is associated with higher risk in cirrhosis.
- Dialysis status: in standard MELD rules, frequent recent dialysis sets creatinine to 4.0 mg/dL for scoring.
How the score is calculated
This page applies commonly used MELD conventions:
- Minimum value of 1.0 is used for bilirubin, INR, and creatinine in the logarithmic formula.
- Creatinine is capped at 4.0 mg/dL.
- If dialysis is selected, creatinine is set to 4.0 mg/dL.
- Final MELD and MELD-Na values are rounded and constrained to a clinical range of 6 to 40.
- Sodium is constrained to 125–137 for MELD-Na.
MELD(i) = 3.78 × ln(bilirubin) + 11.2 × ln(INR) + 9.57 × ln(creatinine) + 6.43
MELD-Na = MELD + 1.32 × (137 − Na) − 0.033 × MELD × (137 − Na)
How to interpret your result
In general, a higher score corresponds to higher short-term mortality risk. The ranges below are often cited as a quick reference for 90-day prognosis and urgency discussions:
| Score Range | Approximate 90-Day Mortality | General Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| ≤ 9 | ~1.9% | Lower short-term risk; close monitoring still needed |
| 10–19 | ~6.0% | Moderate risk; active disease management important |
| 20–29 | ~19.6% | High risk; specialist follow-up is critical |
| 30–39 | ~52.6% | Very high risk; urgent evaluation needed |
| ≥ 40 | ~71.3% | Extremely high risk; emergency-level planning often required |
Important clinical note
MELD is one part of assessment. Symptoms (confusion, bleeding, ascites, infection), imaging, nutrition status, and other comorbidities all matter. Never delay emergency care while trying to interpret a calculator result.
Common mistakes people make
- Entering outdated lab values rather than recent results.
- Mixing units from different labs without checking.
- Assuming a single score replaces physician assessment.
- Ignoring symptoms because a previous score looked lower.
When to seek urgent medical help
Contact emergency services immediately if there are signs such as:
- Vomiting blood or black stools
- Severe confusion or sudden drowsiness
- Fever with abdominal swelling or pain
- Rapid worsening jaundice or severe shortness of breath
Final thoughts on using a meld calculadora
A MELD calculator is valuable for understanding risk trends and discussing treatment urgency. Used correctly, it helps patients and families prepare informed questions for hepatology appointments. Used alone, however, it can be misleading. Keep the score in context, use the most recent labs, and review results with a qualified clinician.