Abstract
Background: Sarcopenia is a syndrome characterized by progressive and systemic decreases in skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength. The influence or prognosis of various liver diseases in this condition have been widely investigated, but little is known about whether sarcopenia and/or muscle mass loss are related to minimal hepatic encephalopathy.Methods: To clarify the relationship between minimal hepatic encephalopathy and sarcopenia and/or muscle mass loss in patients with liver cirrhosis. Ninety-nine patients with liver cirrhosis were enrolled. Minimal hepatic encephalopathy was diagnosed by a neuropsychiatric test. Skeletal mass index was calculated by dividing muscle area at the third lumbar vertebra by the square of height in meters.Results: MHE was detected in 48 cases (48.5%) and sarcopenia in 6 cases (6.1%). Patients were divided into two groups, with or without MHE. Comparing groups, no significant differences were seen in serum ammonia concentration or rate of sarcopenia. Skeletal muscle index was smaller in patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy (46.4 cm2/m2) than in those without (51.2 cm2/m2, P = 0.027). Skeletal muscle index represented a predictive factor related to minimal hepatic encephalopathy (<50 cm2/m2; odds ratio 0.300, P = 0.002).Conclusions: Muscle mass loss was related to minimal hepatic encephalopathy, although sarcopenia was not. Measurement of muscle mass loss might be useful to predict MHE.
Loss of Skeletal Muscle Mass Affects the Incidence of Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy: A Case Control Study
