Understanding the MELD score

MELD score. Model for End Stage Liver Disease ..... it's all about the MELD

I got this off a support group I belong to in case you are interested. Basically the MELD score components are Bilirubin---Liver, Creatinine---Kidney function and INR, how well your blood is clotting.

The Meld score is a fair system. It is based on how long the person has to live without having a transplant done. They can tell this by the bilirubin level, creatinine level, and also the INR level.They have, in many places, added the sodium level to this.Bilirubin is converted by the liver into a soluble form and the liver also makes factors to keep the blood clotting which signify the INR level. So they are looking at the function that the liver does. The creatinine is a by product of using our muscles. The kidney normally removes this from the body. If the kidneys are having a problem, then this level will raise in the blood. The sodium is being watched more closely because of patients being put on a low sodium diet basically because of Ascites and edema forming. Sodium is one of the electrolytes of the body that keeps our hearts beating in rhythm. So it is very important.The Meld score starts at 6...these people are pretty well yet and have a long time before a transplant is needed...some even go off the list____the highest is 40...these people are very sick and may need a transplant in a few days otherwise they may go into a coma or become to sick to withstand the surgery. If your tests results show that you are getting better, you will go down the list...as you get sicker, you will go up the list.

People who are on the list, usually have a contact to be sure where they are located on the list.