Additional Resources
We encourage you to learn everything you can about liver disease and treatment options, including transplantation. Below are helpful resources for you and your family to explore:
- American Cancer Society
- American Liver Foundation
- California Transplant Donor Network
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Hepatitis Foundation
- National Cancer Institute
- National Foundation for Transplants
- National Living Donor Assistance Center
- OrganDonor.gov
- Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients
- Stanford Hospital Health Library
- Transplant Living
- United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)
Understanding Your MELD Score
The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) is a numerical scale that is currently used for liver allocation. It’s the most important determining factor of when you’ll receive a transplant.
Your MELD score is calculated using a mathematical formula that is solely based on three of your lab values:
- Total bilirubin
- INR (measure of clotting)
- Creatinine (measure of kidney function)
After you are placed on the liver transplant list, you will be required to have lab work done on a regular basis in order to receive an accurate MELD score and be transplanted.
Find out your MELD score using the MELD Calculator.
Lab Frequency for MELD Recertification |
||
|---|---|---|
| MELD score 25 or greater | Renew labs every 7 days | Lab values no older than 48 hours |
| MELD score 19-24 | Renew labs every 30 days | Lab values no older than 7 days |
| MELD score 11-18 | Renew labs every 3 months | Lab values no older than 14 days |
| MELD score 10 or less | Renew labs every year | Lab values no older than 30 days |