Gastroenterology

MELD-Na Score

Predicts 90-day survival in patients with advanced liver disease.

Parameters

mg/dL
mg/dL
mEq/L

MELD-Na Score Result

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FormulaMELD = 10 × (0.957 × ln(Cr) + 0.378 × ln(Bili) + 1.120 × ln(INR) + 0.643) If MELD > 11: MELD-Na = MELD + 1.32(137-Na) - [0.033 × MELD × (137-Na)]

Clinical Pearls

MELD-Na is the standard metric used by UNOS for the prioritization of patients awaiting liver transplantation in the USA. Higher scores equal higher priority.

Limitations

Calculations can fluctuate rapidly with changes in creatinine or sodium (e.g. from over-diuresis). It is not designed to predict post-transplant survival, only waitlist mortality.