title: Physical performance and health-related quality of life in men on a liver transplantation waiting list.
abstract: Twenty-six men on a liver transplant waiting list (12 had alcoholic cirrhosis, 8 suffered from posthepatitic cirrhosis, and 6 from cirrhosis of other etiologies) were eligible for this observation. Nineteen subjects underwent exercise testing to determine oxygen uptake at anaerobic threshold. In all patients dynamometry was performed to determine isokinetic muscle strength of knee extensor muscles, and handgrip. Quality of life was evaluated in all patients with the MOS SF-36 questionnaire. Child-Pugh A patients showed 54 +/- 8%, Child-Pugh B patients 36 +/- 2%, and Child-Pugh C patients 31 +/- 4% of VO2 max predicted at the anaerobic threshold (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA, p < 0.05). Isokinetic muscle strength of the quadriceps femoris (left/right) was 149 +/- 20/134 +/- 14 Nm in Child-Pugh A, 108 +/- 16/114 +/- 19 Nm in Child-Pugh B, and 89 +/- 10/81 +/- 11 Nm in Child-Pugh C patients (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA, p < 0.05). MOS-SF36 revealed a Child-Pugh class dependent reduced functional status (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA, p < 0.05). No significant differences in target parameters were found when analysed according to the etiology of cirrhosis. Patients on the liver transplant waiting list do have a stage dependent reduction in physical health. These data are the basis for longitudinal studies measuring the effects of preoperative rehabilitation programs in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Wiesinger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quittan
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nuhr
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wichlas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bodingbauer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Asari
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berlakovich
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Crevenna
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fialka-Moser
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peck-Radosavljevic
mesh_terms: D015308:Anaerobic Threshold; D005080:Exercise Test; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011788:Quality of Life; D014850:Waiting Lists