The evolution and impact of sarcopenia pre‐ and post‐liver transplantation

Summary

Background

Sarcopenia is associated with both increased wait‐list mortality and mortality following liver transplantation.

Aims

To determine the course of sarcopenia from transplant evaluation until 1 year post‐transplant, and its implications on hospitalisation and mortality following liver transplantation.

Methods

Two hundred and ninety‐three transplant recipients from 2002 to 2006 had pre‐transplant CT scans analysed at the third lumbar region for sarcopenia, myosteatosis and abdominal visceral fat content. Half the recipients had post‐transplant CT scan for interpretation (161/293).

Results

Sarcopenia was present in 146/293 (50%) of the patients pre‐transplant. There was a significant decrease in muscle mass (loss 2.0 ± 4.9 cm²/m²; P < 0.001), and an increase in myosteatosis while awaiting liver transplantation. There was no significant change in abdominal visceral fat. For every 1 cm²/m² decrease in muscle mass there was an increase in post‐transplant length of stay by 0.36 days (P = 0.005). Post‐transplant, 98/161 (61%) of patients with CT imaging had sarcopenia (25 de novo and 73 persistent), with continued increase in myosteatosis, lower Hounsfield units (−5.0 [IQR −8.6 to 0.1]; P < 0.001) and an increase in abdominal visceral fat (4.9 [IQR −4.4 to 15.6] cm²/m²; P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in 1‐year mortality in patients with de novo sarcopenia compared to patients with sarcopenia both pre‐ and post‐transplant (HR 1.88; P = 0.088).

Conclusions

Sarcopenia progresses up to 1 year following liver transplantation and is associated with an increase in post‐transplant length of stay.

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