title: Improved assessment of body cell mass by segmental bioimpedance analysis in malnourished subjects and acromegaly.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Estimation of body cell mass (BCM) has been regarded valuable for the assessment of malnutrition.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the value of segmental bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) for BCM estimation in malnourished subjects and acromegaly.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen controls and 63 patients with either reduced (liver cirrhosis without and with ascites, Cushing's disease) or increased BCM (acromegaly) were included. Whole-body and segmental BIA (separately measuring arm, trunk, leg) at 50 kHz was compared with BCM measured by total-body potassium. Multiple regression analysis was used to develop specific equations for BCM in each subgroup.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to whole-body BIA equations, the inclusion of arm resistance improved the specific equation in cirrhotic patients without ascites and in Cushing's disease resulting in excellent prediction of BCM (R(2) = 0.93 and 0.92, respectively; both P<0.001). In acromegaly, inclusion of resistance and reactance of the trunk best described BCM (R(2) = 0.94, P<0.001). In controls and in cirrhotic patients with ascites, segmental impedance parameters did not improve BCM prediction (best values obtained by whole-body measurements: R(2)=0.88 and 0.60; P<0.001 and <0.003, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Segmental BIA improves the assessment of BCM in malnourished patients and acromegaly, but not in patients with severe fluid overload.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Abteilung Gastroenterologie, Universitätsklinikum Charité, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pirlich
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schütz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ockenga
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Biering
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gerl
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ertl
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plauth
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lochs
mesh_terms: D000172:Acromegaly / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001201:Ascites / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D001823:Body Composition; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D011188:Potassium