Skeletal Muscle 31P MR Spectroscopy Surpasses CT in Predicting Patient Survival After Liver Transplantation

Abstract

Skeletal muscle alterations are associated with higher mortality and morbidity in patients with liver cirrhosis. Assessing these changes seems to be a promising method for identifying patients at a high risk of poor outcomes following liver transplantation (LT). This is particularly important given the current global shortage of organ donors. However, evidence of the impact of these alterations on the prognosis of patients undergoing LT is inconclusive. The aim of our prospective study was to evaluate the impact of skeletal muscle changes, reflected in sarcopenia, myosteatosis and metabolic changes in the calf muscles, on perioperative outcomes and long-term survival after LT. We also sought to determine the posttransplant evolution of the resting muscle metabolism.