Published online Jun 18, 2022. doi: 10.5500/wjt.v12.i6.120
Peer-review started: January 10, 2022
First decision: April 13, 2022
Revised: April 24, 2022
Accepted: May 22, 2022
Article in press: May 22, 2022
Published online: June 18, 2022
Core Tip: Pre-transplant sarcopenia as measured by single-slice computed tomography has prognostic value in predicting outcomes in liver transplant recipients. In this retrospective study, we explore the association of pre-transplant dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) body composition analysis with early post-transplant outcomes. Low upper limb lean mass (LM) was a predictor of 180-d post-transplant bacterial infections and longer hospital and intensive care length of stay in men but not women. Upper limb LM was superior to other measures of LM including appendicular LM in predicting adverse outcomes. There was no association between pre-transplant body composition and post-transplant mortality, graft failure or early acute cellular rejection. In conclusion, pre-transplant sarcopenia is associated with adverse outcomes in men after liver transplantation. Upper limb LM provides a novel measure of muscle mass that is superior to other measures of LM on DEXA in predicting early post-transplant outcomes.