Nutritional Status in patient with liver cirrhosis

Abstract

Liver transplantation (OLT) is the treatment that provides long-term survival in liver disease patients (1). Malnutrition and sarcopenia are related to unfavorable post OLT outcomes (2). Characteristics of 26 liver disease subjects post-OLT or candidates to OLT are shown in Table 1. The risk of malnutrition was assessed using the GLIM criteria. Patients were also evaluated by bioimpedance analysis (BIA). Total muscle area was assessed for 10 patients by studying the transverse CAT scan (CT) image at L3 level and the Skeletal Muscle Index SMI (3). In Table 2 were summarized the conditions of the patients according to the GLIM criteria. For patients with CT was calculated SMI (Table 3). The evaluation of the condition of malnutrition by GLIM criteria and evaluations by BIA and CT in patients who were post OLT or candidates allows a better clinical outcome in subjects at high risk of sarcopenia and malnutrition. The most significant investigation for sarcopenia is the determination of the SMI by CT analysis. It is therefore desirable to have staff dedicated to the assessment of subjects at risk within the OLT team.