MELD / MELD-Na Calculator
Enter common liver disease lab values below to calculate an estimated MELD score and MELD-Na score.
Educational use only. This tool is not affiliated with Mayo Clinic and does not replace clinical judgment.
What is a MELD score?
The MELD score (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) is a numerical score used to estimate the severity of chronic liver disease. It helps clinicians understand short-term risk and can support transplant prioritization decisions when interpreted in clinical context.
When people search for a MELD score calculator Mayo Clinic, they are usually looking for a trusted calculator format that takes standard lab values and returns a practical score quickly. This page provides a calculator that follows commonly used MELD and MELD-Na conventions in an easy, readable format.
Why MELD matters in practice
- It provides a standardized, objective score using laboratory data.
- It supports communication between providers and care teams.
- It can help track disease trajectory over time when repeated consistently.
- It is one part of a larger clinical picture, not a standalone diagnosis.
Inputs used in this MELD calculator
This calculator uses the most common laboratory and clinical elements associated with MELD scoring.
- Total bilirubin: reflects bile pigment processing and excretion.
- INR: reflects blood clotting function affected by liver synthetic capacity.
- Serum creatinine: reflects kidney function, which strongly influences prognosis in advanced liver disease.
- Serum sodium: used for MELD-Na adjustment in many modern workflows.
- Recent dialysis status: if present, creatinine handling is adjusted per common scoring rules.
Formula summary
Original MELD: 10 × (0.957×ln(creatinine) + 0.378×ln(bilirubin) + 1.120×ln(INR) + 0.643)
MELD-Na: MELD + 1.32×(137−Na) − [0.033×MELD×(137−Na)]
Common bounds are applied in this tool: floor and cap rules for lab values and final score range handling.
How to use this page
- Enter bilirubin, INR, and creatinine values exactly as reported.
- Enter sodium if you want MELD-Na in addition to MELD.
- Check the dialysis box if dialysis occurred at least twice in the last week.
- Click Calculate to view score output and interpretation tier.
Interpreting result tiers (general reference)
- MELD 6–9: lower short-term risk relative to higher bands.
- MELD 10–19: moderate short-term risk.
- MELD 20–29: high short-term risk.
- MELD 30–39: very high short-term risk.
- MELD 40: extremely high short-term risk category.
These bands are rough guidance only. Any single score must be interpreted alongside diagnosis, exam findings, complications, imaging, trends, and specialist review.
Important limitations and clinical caution
- This page is for informational and educational use, not direct treatment decisions.
- Lab timing matters: older values can misrepresent current status.
- Acute events (infection, bleeding, kidney injury) can change scores quickly.
- Different institutions may apply protocol details differently.
- Transplant candidacy depends on many factors beyond MELD.
FAQ
Is this an official Mayo Clinic calculator?
No. This is an independent educational calculator designed to match a familiar MELD/MELD-Na workflow. It is not an official Mayo Clinic tool or publication.
Should I use MELD or MELD-Na?
Many modern evaluations consider MELD-Na because sodium adds prognostic information. Your care team decides which metric is most appropriate in your specific clinical setting.
What if my values are very low or very high?
Standard clamp rules are commonly used in MELD calculations (for example, lower limits and caps for certain lab values). This calculator applies those conventions to keep outputs clinically aligned with common usage.
Can I use this for emergency care decisions?
No. If symptoms are worsening or severe, seek urgent medical care. Online calculators cannot evaluate the full complexity of liver disease in real time.
Medical disclaimer: Always review results with a qualified hepatology or transplant team. This content is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.