Which factors are used to calculate the MELD score?

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Multiple Choice

Which factors are used to calculate the MELD score?

MELD uses three laboratory values to gauge mortality risk in advanced liver disease: bilirubin, INR, and creatinine. Bilirubin shows how well the liver excretes bile pigments, so higher levels indicate worsening excretory function. INR reflects the liver’s ability to synthesize clotting factors, with a higher INR signaling poorer synthetic function. Creatinine measures kidney function; kidney impairment is common in liver disease and greatly impacts prognosis, so higher creatinine elevates the score. The other options mix parameters not used in MELD—albumin and ascites are not part of the MELD calculation (they’re included in Child-Pugh), and ALT/AST or platelets are not components of MELD. Therefore, bilirubin, INR, and creatinine are the correct factors.

MELD uses three laboratory values to gauge mortality risk in advanced liver disease: bilirubin, INR, and creatinine. Bilirubin shows how well the liver excretes bile pigments, so higher levels indicate worsening excretory function. INR reflects the liver’s ability to synthesize clotting factors, with a higher INR signaling poorer synthetic function. Creatinine measures kidney function; kidney impairment is common in liver disease and greatly impacts prognosis, so higher creatinine elevates the score. The other options mix parameters not used in MELD—albumin and ascites are not part of the MELD calculation (they’re included in Child-Pugh), and ALT/AST or platelets are not components of MELD. Therefore, bilirubin, INR, and creatinine are the correct factors.

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