title: Aerobic capacity, muscle strength and health-related quality of life before and after orthotopic liver transplantation: preliminary data of an Austrian transplantation centre.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients before orthotopic liver transplantation usually show a reduced physical performance status, which impacts on their daily life and social participation. This pilot study aimed to evaluate endurance capacity, muscle strength, and quality of life before and after orthotopic liver transplantation in patients in an Austrian transplantation centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients (male/female = 10:5) were included in the pilot study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Exercise testing, strength testing of knee extensor muscles and of handgrip, and quality of life (SF-36 health survey) were assessed before and after orthotopic liver transplantation (after 1-2 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The oxygen uptake at the anaerobic threshold (VO2AT) and isokinetic strength testing of quadriceps femoris muscle did not change significantly from baseline, before transplantation to follow-up after orthotopic liver transplantation. Before orthotopic liver transplantation, quality of life was hampered concerning functional status, emotional role, vitality, and general health perception. Significant improvements of social functioning (p=0.032), vitality (p=0.006), mental health (p=0.004) and general health perception (p=0.002) could be found for this study population after orthotopic liver transplantation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this pilot study including a population of an Austrian transplantation centre indicate deficits of physical performance as well as reduced quality of life in patients before and after orthotopic liver transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pieber
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Crevenna
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Nuhr
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quittan
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peck-Radosavljevic
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fialka-Moser
authors.forename: Günther F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Wiesinger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires