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Sarcopenia impairs the outcome of patients with liver cirrhosis independently of liver function reserves. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the rate of skeletal muscle wasting predicts mortality in cirrhotic patients.This retrospective study evaluated 149 cirrhotic patients who visited our hospital between March 2004 and September 2012. The skeletal muscle cross-sectional area at the level of the third lumbar vertebra was measured by computed tomography, from which the skeletal muscle index was obtained for diagnosis of sarcopenia. The relative change in skeletal muscle area per year (ΔSMA/y) was calculated in each patient. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to evaluate risk factors for mortality.Of the 149 cirrhotic patients, 94 (63%) were diagnosed with sarcopenia. The median of ΔSMA/y in all patients was -2.2%. For patients in Child-Pugh class A, B and C, ΔSMA/y was -1.3%, -3.5% and -6.1%, respectively. During a median follow-up period of 39 months (range, 1-110), 45 patients (30%) died. The optimal cut-off value of ΔSMA/y for predicting mortality was -3.1%; the survival rate in patients with ΔSMA/y of -3.1% or less was significantly lower than in patients with ΔSMA/y of more than -3.1% (P 0.0001). The multivariate Cox proportional hazards model found ΔSMA/y of -3.1% or less to be significantly associated with mortality in cirrhotic patients (hazard ratio = 2.73, 95% confidence interval = 1.43-5.44, P 0.01).ΔSMA/y is useful for predicting mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis. Management of skeletal muscle may contribute toward improving the outcome of cirrhotic patients.

Serum glycosylated Wisteria floribunda agglutinin positive Mac-2 binding protein (WFA(+) -M2BP) levels are a non-invasive and reliable marker to assess the degree of liver fibrosis. We investigated the use of WFA(+) -M2BP levels to predict mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC).This retrospective study consisted of 59 consecutive patients. Liver fibrosis was estimated by hyaluronic acid (HA), 7S fragment of type IV collagen (7S collagen), aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) and FIB-4 index. The severity of liver disease was evaluated by Child-Pugh classification and the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to evaluate risk factors for mortality, and the diagnostic accuracy of WFA(+) -M2BP levels to predict mortality was examined using receiver-operator curves.Serum WFA(+) -M2BP levels of Child-Pugh class A, B and C had cut-off indexes (COI) of 2.90, 6.15 and 9.45, respectively. WFA(+) -M2BP levels were positively correlated with HA, 7S collagen, APRI, FIB-4 index, Child-Pugh class and MELD score. Multivariate analysis identified WFA(+) -M2BP levels as an independent risk factor of mortality (hazard ratio = 1.19, 95% confidence interval = 1.02-1.41, P = 0.03), and the optimal cutoff point to predict mortality was 5.0 COI. The survival rate was significantly lower in patients with WFA(+) -M2BP levels 5.0 or more COI than in patients with WFA(+) -M2BP of less than 5.0 COI (P = 0.002).Serum WFA(+) -M2BP levels were significantly correlated with both liver function reserves and liver fibrosis, and were independently associated with mortality in patients with LC.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and transarterial infusion chemotherapy (TAI) are the main therapeutic strategies for treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We conducted a randomized controlled trial to compare the efficacy and safety of cisplatin and miriplatin in TACE and TAI.Patients with HCC of indication for TACE or TAI were randomly assigned to receive either cisplatin or miriplatin (49 patients per group) between April 2010 and May 2013. The primary end-point was the therapeutic effect (TE) 3 months after initial treatment, and the secondary end-point was overall survival.TE could be evaluated in 26 patients of the cisplatin group and 20 patients of the miriplatin group. In the cisplatin group, 11 (42.3%) and 15 (57.7%) patients were classified as showing TE3 + 4 and TE1 + 2, respectively, while in the miriplatin group, each number was nine (45.0%) and 11 (55.0%) (P = 0.8551). Furthermore, no significant difference in overall survival was found between two groups for all patients (P = 0.905) or those treated only with TAI (10 in the cisplatin group and eight in the miriplatin group; P = 0.695). TE3 + 4 group showed better overall survival than TE1 + 2 group (P = 0.0263). Grade 4 or higher adverse event did not occur in either group. Creatinine levels in the cisplatin group rose 3 days after TACE or TAI (P = 0.0397).Cisplatin and miriplatin had equal efficacy for TACE and TAI, but cisplatin should be avoided for patients with renal dysfunction or inadequate hydration. Good TE improved overall survival.