title: Weight loss during cirrhosis is related to the etiology of liver disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malnutrition is widely described in patients waiting for liver transplantation (LTx). However, risk factors associated with weight loss during liver disease have not yet been well studied.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess weight loss and its risk factors during liver disease and up to the first appointment after transplantation. Patients who underwent LTx were retrospectively assessed for weight loss during liver disease while on the waiting list for LTx. The usual weight of the patients before disease and their weight on the first outpatient appointment after transplant were considered. Demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle and clinical variables were collected to assess risk factors using a linear regression analysis. We retrospectively evaluated 163 patients undergoing LTx between 1997 and 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients lost in average 7.7 ± 12.4 kg while ill. Variables independently associated with weight loss by multiple linear regression analyses were as follows: former smoker (P = 0.03), greater body mass index (P<0.01), overweight before liver disease (P = 0.02) and indication for LTx (P = 0.01). Among these indications, patients with alcoholic cirrhosis had lost significantly more weight (P<0.01), and those with hepatitis C virus (P = 0.01) and autoimmune hepatitis (P = 0.02) had lost significantly less weight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients experienced weight loss during liver disease independent of age, sex, schooling and income; however, the etiology of liver disease was related to weight loss.
authors.affiliation: Adult Health Post-Graduate Program, Medical School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil. lucilene.rezende@gmail.com
authors.forename: Lucilene Rezende
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Anastácio
authors.forename: Lívia Garcia
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Hélem de Sena
authors.initials: Hde S
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Agnaldo Soares
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Eduardo Garcia
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Vilela
authors.forename: Maria Isabel Toulson Davisson
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Correia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014850:Waiting Lists; D015431:Weight Loss