Overview

A MELD score (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) is a way to measure severe liver disease. It gives you a score from 6 to 40. The higher the score, the more severe the disease. Your doctor can use it to find out how severe your liver disease is.

Why is it done?

A MELD score is used to place people on the national waiting list for a liver transplant. People with higher MELD scores are usually placed higher on the list. They are more likely to need a new liver sooner than people with lower MELD scores. The scores are updated on a regular basis. Your score may go up or down as you wait for a transplant. A score can change based on the severity of the liver disease.

A MELD score can help you and your doctor decide on your treatment if you have severe liver disease. It can also help doctors predict if someone is likely to live past the next 3 months due to their liver disease.

How does your doctor find your MELD score?

You will have blood tests done to check how well your liver and kidneys are working. The results of the blood tests are used to figure out your MELD score.