Abstract
BackgroundUltrasound is emerging as an efficient significant method for measuring muscle mass in patients with liver cirrhosis. It has been applied in numerous studies as an accurate measuring tool for the muscles of the limbs. This study was conducted to assess the severity of sarcopenia in liver cirrhosis patients, through utilizing ultrasound in measuring the cross-sectional area and consequently estimating the muscle mass of both the upper and lower limb muscles, than correlating the results with hand grip strength as representative of functional status. Also, the severity of sarcopenia was correlated with conventional prognostic scores for liver cirrhosis, like Child or MELD scores and detecting its effect on the duration of hospital stay and mortality.ResultsThis study was conducted on 101 liver cirrhosis patients who were admitted to the internal medicine hospital, 30 healthy participants were added as a control group. Using the FNIH (Foundation for the national Institutes of health) cuff off of hand grip (< 26 kg in male and < 16 kg in female, Quadriceps muscle index cutoff was estimated to be(1.67 cm/m2 for male and 1.58 cm/m2 for female).Ultrasound (mid upper arm, mid-thigh and Quadriceps muscle index) showed significant indirect correlation with (Child even in Child A and MELD) scores, as well as with the duration of hospital stay. Also, they showed a direct correlation with HGS.ConclusionSarcopenia in cirrhotic patients assessed by ultrasonography of (mid upper arm, mid-thigh muscle thickness) and HGS are independent predictors of disease severity and poor outcome, which is assessed by high Child and MELD scores. Also, ultrasound and HGS are straightforward bedside techniques used for assessment of sarcopenia.
Highlights
Ultrasound is emerging as an efficient significant method for measuring muscle mass in patients with liver cirrhosis
Sarcopenia in cirrhotic patients assessed by ultrasonography of and Hand grip strength (HGS) are independent predictors of disease severity and poor outcome, which is assessed by high Child and Model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores
Ultrasound and HGS are straightforward bedside techniques used for assessment of sarcopenia
Summary
Ultrasound is emerging as an efficient significant method for measuring muscle mass in patients with liver cirrhosis. This study was conducted to assess the severity of sarcopenia in liver cirrhosis patients, through utilizing ultrasound in measuring the cross-sectional area and estimating the muscle mass of both the upper and lower limb muscles, than correlating the results with hand grip strength as representative of functional status. Sarcopenia—broadly defined as a significant loss of muscle mass and function—is increasingly identified as a crucial independent risk factor for varied adverse outcomes. These negative outcomes include physical disability, osteoporosis, fractures, prolonged hospital stay and re-admission.
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