Treatment of Sarcopenia Improves the Muscle Mass and Muscle Strength of Patients With Liver Cirrhosis-Child C

Sarcopenia is defined as loss of skeletal muscle mass. In cirrhosis, due to impaired urea genesis and decreased hepatic ammonia disposal, the skeletal muscle functions as a metabolic partner for the liver. The proportion of patients with sarcopenia is higher in those with alcoholic liver cirrhosis (80%) compared to cirrhosis due to other etiologies (31%-71%). Sarcopenia is prevalent in \> 50% patients with Child C cirrhosis. Sarcopenia increases the risk for severe infections in patients with cirrhosis. Adequate amino acid supply is needed for appropriate antibody and cytokine responses, that is impaired when skeletal muscle mass. The sepsis-related mortality rates in patients with and without sarcopenia are 22% and 8%, respectively (P = 0.02). In patients with liver cirrhosis is protein-calorie malnutrition, leading to severe consequences to the general state and clinical evolution of the patient.