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World J Gastroenterol. Jul 7, 2014; 20(25): 8061-8071
Published online Jul 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i25.8061
Clinical relevance of sarcopenia in patients with cirrhosis
Aldo J Montano-Loza
Aldo J Montano-Loza, Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Unit, University of Alberta Hospital, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB T6G 2X8, Canada
Author contributions: Montano-Loza AJ solely contributed to this paper.
Correspondence to: Aldo J Montano-Loza, MD, MSc, PhD, Assistant Professor, Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Unit, University of Alberta Hospital, University of Alberta, 130 University Campus, Edmonton AB T6G 2X8, Canada. montanol@ualberta.ca
Telephone: +1-780-2481892 Fax: +1-780-2481895
Received: November 1, 2013
Revised: January 13, 2014
Accepted: March 12, 2014
Published online: July 7, 2014
Processing time: 247 Days and 9.2 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Severe muscle wasting or sarcopenia is one of the most common and frequently hidden complications in patients with cirrhosis, which negatively impact survival, quality of life, and response to stressor, such as infections and surgeries. Numerous indirect methods have been used to quantify body composition in cirrhotics; however, most of these methods lack either availability and/or reproducibility, and their accuracy may be limited in the presence of fluid retention. Cross-sectional imaging studies, including computed tomography scan, or magnetic resonance imagingare the gold standard tools to quantify skeletal muscle mass and hence constitute a good resource for objective and detailed nutritional/metabolic assessment of cirrhotic patients and identification of sarcopenia.