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MELD-Na Score Calculator

Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score used for transplant priority.

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Same equations the textbooks use — just way less awkward. Pop in your stats and I'll tell you what the number actually means for you.

Try a scenario

Click to load — tweak from there.

Inputs

Result

MELD-Na score

27

Base MELD (no sodium)

24

Approx. 3-month mortality risk

High 3-month mortality (~20-50%)

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How to use this

  1. 1Enter total bilirubin (mg/dL).
  2. 2Enter creatinine (mg/dL).
  3. 3Enter inr.
  4. 4Enter sodium (mEq/L).
  5. 5Enter dialysis ≥2x in past week.
  6. 6Read your meld-na score on the right — it updates as you type.
  7. 7Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.

About this calculator

MELD-Na (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease, sodium-adjusted) estimates three-month mortality in patients with end-stage liver disease and is the primary score used by transplant allocation systems in the US to prioritize deceased-donor liver transplant candidates — higher scores get higher priority because they reflect more urgent need. It's calculated from bilirubin, creatinine, INR, and sodium, with all lab values floored at 1.0 (or 1) and creatinine capped at 4.0 mg/dL (and set to 4.0 if the patient has had two or more dialysis sessions in the past week) to prevent extreme lab values from producing unrealistic scores. Sodium is capped between 125 and 137 mEq/L in the calculation. The score ranges from 6 to 40, with scores above 30-35 indicating extremely high short-term mortality risk. This calculator reproduces the standard formula for general understanding of transplant priority scoring — actual UNOS/OPTN allocation calculations, exception points, and listing decisions must go through the official transplant center and registry process, not this tool. This tool is for education and workflow support only — not medical advice. Always verify results with a clinician and use clinical judgment alongside your institution's protocols.

FormulaMELD-Na = MELD + 1.32×(137−Na) − [0.033×MELD×(137−Na)], where MELD = 3.78×ln(bili) + 11.2×ln(INR) + 9.57×ln(creatinine) + 6.43.

Worked example

Using the values the calculator loads with:

Inputs

  • Total bilirubin: 3.2 mg/dL
  • Creatinine: 1.8 mg/dL
  • INR: 1.9
  • Sodium: 132 mEq/L
  • Dialysis ≥2x in past week: No

Results

  • MELD-Na score: 27
  • Base MELD (no sodium): 24
  • Approx. 3-month mortality risk: High 3-month mortality (~20-50%)

What each field means

Inputs

Total bilirubin (mg/dL)
The total bilirubin used in the calculation, measured in mg/dL. Starts at 3.2 mg/dL so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0.1–50 mg/dL.
Creatinine (mg/dL)
The creatinine used in the calculation, measured in mg/dL. Starts at 1.8 mg/dL so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0.1–20 mg/dL.
INR
The inr used in the calculation. Starts at 1.9 so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0.8–10.
Sodium (mEq/L)
The sodium used in the calculation, measured in mEq/L. Starts at 132 mEq/L so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 100–150 mEq/L.
Dialysis ≥2x in past week
Pick the option that matches your situation — the maths changes per option. Choices: Yes, No.

Results

MELD-Na score
Returned as a whole number and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
Base MELD (no sodium)
Returned as a whole number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
Approx. 3-month mortality risk
Returned as a plain value. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.

FAQ

Why does MELD-Na cap creatinine at 4.0?

Without a cap, extremely high creatinine values (common in dialysis-dependent patients) would push the score disproportionately high in a way that doesn't track additional real mortality risk, so the formula caps creatinine at 4.0 mg/dL, and automatically uses 4.0 for anyone who has had two or more dialysis sessions in the preceding week regardless of measured creatinine.

Why was sodium added to the original MELD score?

Studies found that hyponatremia independently predicted mortality in cirrhosis beyond what bilirubin, INR, and creatinine captured alone, particularly in patients with lower MELD scores where sodium had the most discriminating power. Adding sodium (MELD-Na) improved prediction accuracy and it has been the standard formula used for U.S. liver allocation since 2016.

Can I use this calculator for actual transplant listing?

No. This reproduces the public MELD-Na formula for educational purposes, but actual UNOS/OPTN allocation involves exception points, policy-specific rounding and rules, and periodic formula updates that must be run through the official transplant center and registry systems, not a general calculator.

What MELD-Na score is considered for transplant listing?

Practices vary by center and region, but scores in the high teens to 20s are commonly where formal transplant evaluation intensifies, and allocation priority increases meaningfully as the score climbs into the 25-30+ range, reflecting rapidly rising 90-day mortality without transplant.

Accuracy and limitations

  • Population formulas describe averages; individual bodies vary, especially at the extremes of height, age, or muscle mass.
  • Results do not account for medical conditions, medication, or pregnancy.
  • Use this as a directional reference, not a diagnosis — talk to a clinician before acting on it.

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Cite this calculator

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APA
RevenueLab. (2026). MELD-Na Score Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/meld-score
HTML
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/meld-score" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MELD-Na Score Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Markdown
Source: [MELD-Na Score Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/meld-score) (2026).
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