Chronic inflammation and muscle depletion in cirrhosis patients

Rationale: Sarcopenia is recognized as a common complication in patients with cirrhosis awaiting LT. The pathogenesis of sarcopenia in cirrhosis is multifactorial and results fundamentally from an imbalance between protein synthesis and breakdown. Cirrhosis is a proinflammatory condition in which exists elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CPR) and systemic inflammatory cytokines. Computed tomography (CT) scans, when taken as part of routine care pre liver transplant, provide an excellent opportunity to precisely measure the quantity and quality of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue.