Visceral adiposity in cirrhosis: Association with disease severity and impact of liver transplantation

Changes in adipose tissue distribution in liver cirrhosis are poorly characterized and may affect clinical outcomes. METHODS: Adult liver transplant (LT) January 2008–August 2017 recipients with abdominal MRI within 6 months pre-LT were retrospectively assessed. Visceral adipose tissue, subcutaneous adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle area (cm(2)) were determined at L3. Visceral-to-subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio (VSR) was used to define relative adipose distribution, stratified by sex. Correlation was tested with Pearson. Body composition measures were compared by Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) class, before and after LT, and evaluated as predictors of clinical outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 318 patients were studied. Mean age was 56 years, 33.64% were female, and 47.80% had CTP C cirrhosis. CTP C was associated with a 0.42-point increase in VSR compared with CTP A (95% CI = 0.13–0.71, p < 0.01), adjusting for age, sex, diabetes, and HCC. Among the 79 (24.84%) patients with repeat MRI 1–2 years after LT, VSR significantly improved from before LT (1.31 vs. 0.95, p < 0.01). In adjusted analysis, CTP C was associated with a 0.86-point decrease in post-LT VSR compared with pre-LT VSR (95% CI = −1.27 to −0.44, p < 0.01). Body mass index poorly correlated with VSR before and after LT. Elevated pre-LT VSR trended toward an association with a 7.17-point decrease in pre-LT glomerular filtration rate (95% CI = −14.35 to −0.02, p = 0.05), adjusting for CTP C, age, sex, diabetes, hypertension, pre-LT sarcopenia, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Elevated pre-LT VSR did not affect 3-year post-LT mortality (log-rank p = 0.24). CONCLUSIONS: Poorly represented by body mass index, visceral adiposity is increased in cirrhosis and is associated with CTP class. However, this adipose redistribution may be modifiable by LT.