Sarcopenia in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: New challenges for clinical practice.

Sarcopenia in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: New challenges for clinical practice. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020 Feb 17;: Authors: El Sherif O, Dhaliwal A, Newsome PN, Armstrong M Abstract Introduction: Sarcopenia is increasingly recognised in patients with non-alcoholic liver disease (NAFLD). Initially recognised as a consequence of advanced liver disease, there is now emerging evidence that sarcopenia may be a novel risk factor for the development of NAFLD, with a role in fibrosis and disease progression.Areas covered: This review examines the epidemiology, pathogenesis and complex interplay between NAFLD and sarcopenia. Furthermore, the authors discuss the challenges with diagnosis of sarcopenia in the clinic and the evidence-based management of sarcopenia in patients with NAFLD. A MEDLINE and PubMed search was undertaken using the terms; "sarcopenia", "frailty", "muscle", "obesity", "non-alcoholic fatty liver disease", "non-alcoholic steatohepatitis" and "cirrhosis" up to 31st September 2019.Expert opinion: Sarcopenia may be masked by the co-existence of morbid obesity, which is most notable in patients with NAFLD. Sarcopenia is a key indicator of adverse outcomes in patients with cirrhosis, such as hepatic decompensation, poor quality of life and premature mortality. Patients with NAFLD and advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis should undergo anthropometric measures (hand grip strength), dry body mass index and measures of ph...
Source: Expert Review of Gastroenterology and Hepatology - Category: Gastroenterology Tags: Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol Source Type: research