Prevalence of malnutrition in liver transplant candidates.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of malnutrition among liver transplant (LT) candidates.


METHODS
A prospective study evaluated 219 adult LT candidates including 141 men and 78 women. Cholestatic disease was present in 21 (Child: A = 1, B = 11, and C = 9) and noncholestatic disease in 198 (Child: A = 12, B = 93, and C = 93. The mean age was respectively 45.6 and 46.5 years. Anthropometric and biochemical assessments were performed for statistical analysis using Student t test (P <.05).


RESULTS
In the noncholestatic group, 41.5% were obese according to keep a body mass index (BMI); 61.6% were depleted according to adequacy of tricipital skin fold (%TSF); and 71.1% were above normal levels for generalized adipose reserve (%F). In terms of adequacy of mid-upper arm muscle circumference (%MMC), 58% were depleted and 50.5% were depleted for the current body weight/usual body weight (%CBW/UBW). Otherwise 52.2% of current body weight/ideal body weight (%CBW/IBW) values were above normal. Serum albumin was below normal in 64.9% of cases. In the cholestatic group 62% were normal for BMI; 66.7% were depleted for %TSF; 77.8% were above normal for %F. As to %MMC, 47.6% were depleted and 47.6% were depleted for %CBW/UBW. Otherwise 47.6% were above normal weight for %CBW/IBW. Serum albumin was below normal in 53.9% and %MMC values showed statistically significant differences (P =.02) when compared with Child B and C in the noncholestatic group, as well as %F (P =.01) and serum albumin (P =.0002) in the cholestatic and noncholestatic groups. Serum albumin values also showed statistically significant differences (P =.0004) when noncholestatic Child B and C patients were compared.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with cholestatic disease were more affected by calorie depletion compared to noncholestatic patients who were more affected by protein depletion.
Zaina
F E
FE
Nutrition and Diet Unit, Liver Transplant Service, Hospital de Clinicas, UFPR, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil. fezaina@hc.ufpr.br
Parolin
M B
MB
Lopes
R W
RW
Coelho
J C U
JC
D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D014850:Waiting Lists
D012709:Serum Albumin