Sarcopenia correlates with mortality in cirrhotic patients who undergo transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt creation for refractory ascites

Abstract

Introduction: Sarcopenia correlates with clinical outcome in cirrhotic patients but it's not very clear its role in patients with refractory ascites. Muscle area quantification at the level of third lumbar vertebra using abdominal computed tomography (CT) images is a novel technique for the evaluation of sarcopenia. Aim: With the present study we aimed to evaluate the possible association of sarcopenia and correlates it with mortality after TIPS placement in a subgroup of patients with refractory ascites.