Abstract: Objective To evaluate the value of model for end-stage liver disease（MELD）scoring system in predicting the prognosis of patients with chronic severe hepatitis B receiving plasma exchange. Methods Total serum bilirubin，international normalized ratio and creatinine were determined pre-treatment and post-treatment in 112 patients with chronic severe hepatitis B who were treated with plasma exchange. The patients were divided into three groups according to MELD score. The mortality rate within three months post-treatment were compared in three groups. Results In 63 cases with MELD score less then 30，19% patients died；in 34 cases with MELD score between 30 and 40，58.8% died；and in 15 cases with MELD score more than 40，none of them survived. The mortality rates among the three groups were significantly different（P<0.05）. Conclusion MELD scoring system is useful in predicting the prognosis of patients with chronic severe hepatitis B treated with plasma exchange.

Key words: Chronic hepatitis B, Severe hepatitis, Plasma exchange, Model for end-stage liver disease scoring system