Muscle Volume Loss Linked to Mortality in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

Muscle volume loss (MVL) was an independent predictor for mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis, according to the results of a recent study. 

The study included 346 patients with liver cirrhosis who were divided based on portal hypertension (PHT) status: those with PHT (n=173) and those without PHT (n=173). MVL was present in 15.6% of patients in each group, and was diagnosed based on previously reported index using computed tomography imaging. The overall survival rate of patients was calculated based on the presence of PHT and MVL.
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Although no significant difference was observed in OSR between patients with and without MVL in the non-PHT group, the OSR of patients with MVL in the PHT group was lower than the OSR in participants without MVL in both groups. The 3 year OSR for patients with MVL (n=54) was 69% compared with 86.4% for those without MVL (n=292), and the 5 year OSR for those with MVL was 35.8% compared with 74.1% for those without MVL.

In addition, hepatocellular carcinoma and MVL were significant independent prognostic factors of mortality.

“MVL and [hepatocellular carcinoma], but not PHT, were found to be independent prognostic factors for death in [liver cirrhosis] patients,” the researchers concluded.

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Hiraoka A, Kitahata S, Izumoto H, et al. Muscle volume loss a prognostic factor for death in liver cirrhosis patients and special relationship to portal hypertension [published online September 20, 2017]. Hepatol Res. doi:10.1111/hepr.12984.