Weight gain after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt is associated with improvement in body composition in malnourished patients with cirrhosis and hypermetabolism.

BACKGROUND/AIMS To search for changes in body composition and energy metabolism associated with the repeatedly observed weight gain of cirrhotic patients after portosystemic shunting. METHODS Twenty-one patients were studied prospectively before and 6 and 12 months after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) to assess body cell mass by two independent methods (total body potassium counting: body cell mass determined by TBP, BCMTBP, bioelectric impedance analysis: body cell mass determined by BIA, BCMBIA), muscle mass (anthropometry), resting energy expenditure (REECALO) by indirect calorimetry, and nutritional intake by dietary recall analysis. RESULTS Prior to TIPS patients were hypermetabolic in terms of measured vs. predicted REE (REECALO median 1423 (range 1164-1838) vs. REEPRED 1279 (1067-1687) kcal; P<0.05) and their body cell mass was lower (19.1 (10.9-33.4) vs. 31.7 (16.8-47.1) kg; P=0.001). After TIPS body cell mass (BCMBIA) increased to 23.5 (12.7-44.3) (P<0.025) and 25.7 (14.2-39.7) kg (P=0.05) at 6 and 12 months after TIPS and this was confirmed by total potassium counting (BCMTBP before TIPS: 18.8 (10.6-26.7) vs. 22.4 (12.9-28.5) kg at 6 months; P<0.01). Hypermetabolism persisted throughout the study period. Energy and protein intake increased significantly by 26 and 33%. CONCLUSIONS An increase of prognostically relevant variables body cell and muscle mass contributes to the weight gain after TIPS in malnourished patients with cirrhosis and hypermetabolism.