The psoas muscle transversal diameter predicts mortality in patients with cirrhosis on a waiting list for liver transplantation A retrospective cohort study

A. Huguet (1) , M. Latournerie (2) , P.H. Debry (1) , C. Jezequel (1) , L. Legros (1) , M. Rayar (1) , K. Boudjema (1) , D. Guyader (3) , E.B. Jacquet (3) , R. Thibault (3)

1 CHU Pontchaillou [Rennes]
2 CHU Dijon - Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Dijon - Hôpital François Mitterrand
3 NuMeCan - Nutrition, Métabolismes et Cancer

Objective Malnutrition impairs prognosis in liver cirrhosis. Our aims were to determine (1) if transversal (TPTI) and axial (APTI) psoas thickness indices predict mortality in cirrhotic patients and (2) the feasibility and reproducibility of transversal (TDPM) and axial (ADPM) diameters of the psoas muscle measurements.Methods This was a retrospective study. Inclusion criteria included cirrhosis diagnosis, on liver transplantation waiting list, and abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan within the 3 mo preceding list inscription. TDPM and ADPM were measured on a single umbilicus-targeted CT image by non-expert and expert operators. TPTI or APTI (mm/m) were calculated as TDPM or ADPM/height (m). Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and Cox proportional hazard models were assessed. TPTI and APTI interobserver agreement κ correlation test.Results A total of 173 patients were included. Low TPTI was associated with increased mortality AUC = 0.66 (95% confidence interval, 0.51–0.80). TPTI was the only factor associated with mortality (hazard ratio = 0.87, 95% confidence interval 0.76–0.99, P = 0.034). There was an almost perfect interobserver agreement between the two operators TDPM, κ = 0.97; ADPM, κ = 0.94; P < 0.0001.Conclusions TPTI measured on umbilicus-targeted CT scan before inscription on the waiting list for liver transplantation predicts mortality of cirrhotic patients. TPTI measurement is easy and reliable, even by a non-trained operator, and this is highly feasible in daily clinical practice.

Keywords: Malnutrition; Liver failure; Muscle mass; Liver graft; Computed tomography scan; Sarcopenia

Domains: Life Sciences [q-bio]; Human health and pathology; Hépatology and Gastroenterology; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Santé publique et épidémiologie

A. Huguet, M. Latournerie, P.H. Debry, C. Jezequel, L. Legros, et al.. The psoas muscle transversal diameter predicts mortality in patients with cirrhosis on a waiting list for liver transplantation A retrospective cohort study. Nutrition, 2018, 51-52, pp.73-79. ⟨10.1016/j.nut.2018.01.008⟩. ⟨hal-01777713⟩