Calculate Meld Score

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MELD Score Calculator

Enter the values and click "Calculate" to see the MELD and MELD-Na scores.

function calculateMELD() { var bilirubinVal = parseFloat(document.getElementById("bilirubin").value); var inrVal = parseFloat(document.getElementById("inr").value); var creatinineVal = parseFloat(document.getElementById("creatinine").value); var sodiumVal = parseFloat(document.getElementById("sodium").value); var onDialysisChecked = document.getElementById("onDialysis").checked; if (isNaN(bilirubinVal) || isNaN(inrVal) || isNaN(creatinineVal) || isNaN(sodiumVal)) { document.getElementById("meldResult").innerHTML = "Please enter valid numbers for all fields."; return; } // Apply caps and floors for MELD calculation var adjBilirubin = Math.min(10.0, Math.max(1.0, bilirubinVal)); var adjINR = Math.min(4.0, Math.max(1.0, inrVal)); var adjCreatinine; if (onDialysisChecked) { adjCreatinine = 4.0; // If on dialysis, creatinine is automatically set to 4.0 } else { adjCreatinine = Math.min(4.0, Math.max(1.0, creatinineVal)); } var adjSodium = Math.min(137, Math.max(125, sodiumVal)); // Sodium caps for MELD-Na adjustment // Calculate unrounded MELD score var unroundedMeld = 3.78 * Math.log(adjBilirubin) + 11.2 * Math.log(adjINR) + 9.57 * Math.log(adjCreatinine) + 6.43; // Cap MELD at 40 if (unroundedMeld > 40) { unroundedMeld = 40; } // Round MELD to nearest integer for display var meldScore = Math.round(unroundedMeld); // Calculate MELD-Na score using the unrounded MELD var meldNaScore = unroundedMeld + 1.32 * (137 – adjSodium) – (0.033 * unroundedMeld * (137 – adjSodium)); // Cap MELD-Na at 40 if (meldNaScore > 40) { meldNaScore = 40; } // Round MELD-Na to nearest integer for display meldNaScore = Math.round(meldNaScore); var resultHTML = "

MELD Score Calculation Results:

"; resultHTML += "MELD Score: " + meldScore + ""; resultHTML += "MELD-Na Score: " + meldNaScore + ""; resultHTML += "Note: The MELD-Na score is generally used for organ allocation."; document.getElementById("meldResult").innerHTML = resultHTML; }

Understanding the MELD Score

The MELD (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) score is a numerical scale used to assess the severity of chronic liver disease. It predicts the three-month survival rate for patients with liver disease and is a critical tool for prioritizing patients for liver transplantation.

How is the MELD Score Calculated?

The MELD score is calculated using a specific formula that incorporates several laboratory values. The original MELD score uses three key blood tests:

  • Total Bilirubin: A measure of how well the liver is clearing bile. Higher levels indicate more severe liver dysfunction.
  • INR (International Normalized Ratio): A measure of the liver's ability to produce clotting factors. A higher INR indicates impaired liver function.
  • Creatinine: A measure of kidney function. Liver disease can affect kidney function, and higher creatinine levels indicate poorer kidney health.

More recently, the MELD-Na score, which includes Serum Sodium, has become the standard. Sodium levels can also be affected by advanced liver disease, and incorporating them provides a more accurate prognosis.

Key Considerations for Calculation:

  • Caps and Floors: For calculation purposes, each lab value has a minimum ("floor") and maximum ("cap") value. For example, bilirubin is capped at 10 mg/dL and floored at 1 mg/dL.
  • Dialysis: If a patient is on dialysis, their creatinine level is automatically set to 4.0 mg/dL for the MELD calculation, regardless of their actual creatinine value.
  • Score Range: The MELD and MELD-Na scores typically range from 6 (least severe) to 40 (most severe).

Interpreting Your MELD Score:

A higher MELD or MELD-Na score indicates more severe liver disease and a higher risk of mortality without a liver transplant. These scores are dynamic and can change over time, reflecting changes in a patient's liver health.

  • 6-9: Low risk of mortality.
  • 10-19: Moderate risk.
  • 20-29: High risk.
  • 30-40: Very high risk, often indicating urgent need for transplant.

Example Calculation:

Let's consider a patient with the following lab values:

  • Total Bilirubin: 3.5 mg/dL
  • INR: 1.8
  • Creatinine: 1.5 mg/dL
  • Serum Sodium: 130 mEq/L
  • Not on Dialysis

Using these values in the calculator:

  • The calculator first applies any necessary caps or floors to the input values.
  • It then computes an initial MELD score based on bilirubin, INR, and creatinine.
  • Finally, it adjusts this score using the serum sodium level to derive the MELD-Na score.

For these example values, the calculator would yield a MELD Score of approximately 22 and a MELD-Na Score of approximately 26, indicating significant liver disease.

Disclaimer: This MELD Score Calculator is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional for any health concerns.

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