The Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score used for allocating deceased donor livers is calculated from which three laboratory parameters?

• A Serum albumin, ascites grade, encephalopathy grade
• B Serum bilirubin, INR, serum creatinine ✓
• C Serum bilirubin, platelet count, spleen size
• D INR, serum sodium, Child-Pugh class

Explanation

The original MELD score uses serum bilirubin, international normalised ratio, and serum creatinine, each weighted logarithmically, to predict 90-day mortality on the waiting list. Albumin, ascites, and encephalopathy belong to the Child-Turcotte-Pugh score, which is subjective and used for prognostication rather than allocation. Serum sodium was later incorporated into MELD-Na variants, but sodium alone with INR does not define the standard score.

Reference: Schwartz's Principles of Surgery, 11th ed.

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