Clinical Research Directory

Muscles in Liver Diseases

Cirrhosis is the 11th leading cause of death in the world. The progression to cirrhosis occurs as a result of chronic hepatic injury, related to excessive alcohol consumption, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, chronic viral infection. Cirrhosis is accompanied by symptoms that profoundly affect the quality of life of patients. Sarcopenia, or decrease in muscle capacity through loss of muscle mass, is associated with liver disease. Patients with liver disease and sarcopenia have increased morbidity, and higher pre- and post-liver transplant mortality than patients without sarcopenia. The mechanism responsible for the development of sarcopenia in liver disease remains largely misunderstood, as do the mechanisms by which sarcopenia appears to promote complications of liver disease. This study, carried out on a prospective cohort of patients with liver disease, aims at understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in sarcopenia and its consequences.