Psoas Muscle Index Does Not Predict Post-Transplant Outcomes: A Series of 57 Liver Transplant Recipients

Background. Sarcopenia is defined as the loss of muscle mass and function. Our aim is to evaluate the degree of sarcopenia by measuring the patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation and its influence on the different post-liver transplant outcomes in our group. Methods. The psoas muscle index (PMI, cm(2)/m(2)) was calculated (right psoas muscle area [cm(2)]/the square of the body height [m(2)]) in 57 patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation in our center, and the post-transplant variables relevant to our study were collected. Results. The 57 recipients had a mean age of 57 years (range, 35-73) and had a mean of 7.4 months (range, 0-39) on the liver transplant waiting list. The mean psoas muscle index was 2.39 (range, 1-4), and the mean body mass index was 28.01kg/m(2) (range, 22-36). After multivariate analysis we found a positive correlation between the PMI and the body mass index of the recipients (r = 0.320, P = .017), intensive care unit length of stay, and donor age (r = 0.319, P = .042), and between cold ischemia time and graft survival (r = 0.366, P = .009). We found no correlation in our sample between PMI and post-liver transplant complications either in terms of graft or patient survival. Conclusion. PMI is not representative of total muscle mass and sarcopenia and is not effective in adequately predicting the survival of patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation.