MELD Score


 * Associate Editor-In-Chief: Suvekchha Devkota.

Overview
The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) is a reliable measure of mortality risk in patients with end-stage liver disease. It is used as a disease severity index to help prioritize allocation of organs for transplant. . The new system, known as the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, leaves no room for subjective criteria favoritism or hospital-shopping, as it is based on a mathematical equation. The equation seeks to calculate a patient’s likelihood of dying within three months from their liver disease. In other words under the MELD scoring system - the sickest patient gets the liver transplant.

Historical Perspective
This model was derived from a heterogeneous group of patients at 4 medical centers in the United States and validated in an independent data set from the Netherlands. The original version of the MELD scale as developed by investigators at Mayo Clinic. A number of modification have been made by UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing) to the model for its implementation in organ allocation for liver transplantation. The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score has been used by the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) since February 2002 as the basis for allocation of deceased donor livers for transplantation among adults in the United States.

Calculation of MELD Score
The MELD Calculator is a utility that allows you to enter hypothetical or actual parameters and calculate a MELD score for an individual patient. The MELD/PELD Calculator uses the specific formulas approved by the OPTN/UNOS Board of Directors and used for the allocation of livers by the OPTN match system. The MELD score calculation uses- For candidates on dialysis, defined as having 2 or more dialysis treatments within the prior week; or candidates who have received 24 hours of CVVHD (Continuous Veno-venous Hemodialysis) within the prior week, will have their serum creatinine level automatically set to 4.0 mg/dl. The MELD Calculator is used for candidates who are 12 years and older.
 * Serum Creatinine (mg/dl) *
 * Bilirubin (mg/dl)
 * INR

MELD Formula
The MELD (Model for End Stage Liver Disease) is a more objective prognostic score, requiring however a calculation software. The MELD score is calculated using the following formula
 * MELD Score = 0.957 x Loge(creatinine mg/dL) + 0.378 x Loge(bilirubin mg/dL) + 1.120 x Loge(INR)+ 0.6431 Multiply the score by 10 and round to the nearest whole number. Laboratory values less than 1.0 are set to 1.0 for the purposes of the MELD score calculation.

Mortality Outcome
In interpreting the MELD Score in hospitalized patients, the 3 month mortality is:
 * 40 or more — 71.3% mortality
 * 30–39 — 52.6% mortality
 * 20–29 — 19.6% mortality
 * 10–19 — 6.0% mortality
 * <9 — 1.9% mortality