Arm Skeletal Muscle Mass Is Associated With the Prognosis of Patients With Cirrhosis.

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the clinical significance of measuring the arm skeletal muscle mass in patients with cirrhosis. Using body composition data measured with the bioimpedance analysis (BIA) method, the skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) values of the arm (arm skeletal muscle mass/height2) and leg (leg skeletal mass muscle/height2) were calculated for 353 patients with cirrhosis, and the relationships of these indices to their prognosis were assessed. In addition, overhydration of the upper and lower limbs was compared. Arm SMI was significantly positively associated with the prognosis of patients with cirrhosis (p=0.0002) but leg SMI was not (p=0.0829). The rate of overhydration in the lower limbs was significantly higher than that in the upper limbs (p<0.0001). Arm SMI measured with the BIA method was suggested to be minimally affected by water retention, and might be clinically useful for patients with cirrhosis.