{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,30]],"date-time":"2025-12-30T10:06:11Z","timestamp":1767089171151,"version":"3.48.0"},"reference-count":26,"publisher":"Medical Communications Sp. z.o.o.","issue":"101","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,30]],"date-time":"2025-06-30T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1751241600000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["J Ultrason"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Aim: Sarcopenia is a significant predictor of postoperative morbidity and mortality in liver transplant\nrecipients. Traditional assessment tools such as computed tomography (CT) and bioelectrical impedance\nanalysis have limitations in clinical use. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of ultrasonography (USG) in\nassessing abdominal muscle thickness as a marker of sarcopenia. Material and methods: This prospective\nobservational study was conducted at a tertiary liver transplant center between September 2023 and May\n2024. USG was used to measure the thickness of the external oblique (EO), internal oblique, and transversus\nabdominis (TA) muscles in 41 liver transplant recipients and 41 healthy donors. Sarcopenia was also assessed\nusing CT-based L3 skeletal muscle index (L3-SMI) and hand grip strength. Correlations with disease severity\n(Model for End-Stage Liver Disease, Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP)), postoperative outcomes, and ascitic fluid\nvolume were analyzed. Results: Abdominal muscle thickness was significantly lower in recipients compared\nto donors (EO: 2.9 \u00b1 1.0 mm vs. 4.5 \u00b1 1.8 mm; TA: 2.2 \u00b1 0.7 mm vs. 3.2 \u00b1 1.0 mm; p &lt;0.001). Sarcopenia\nprevalence was 78% by L3-SMI and 82.9% by hand grip strength. ROC analysis demonstrated that EO\n&lt;3.6 mm and TA &lt;2.55 mm predicted sarcopenia in males with high sensitivity and specificity. Muscle\nthinning correlated with higher CTP scores, greater ascitic fluid volume, and prolonged intensive care unit\nstay. Conclusions: USG-derived abdominal muscle thickness, especially EO &lt;3.6 mm and TA &lt;2.55 mm\nin males, is a reliable, non-invasive marker for sarcopenia in liver transplant candidates. It correlates with\ndisease severity and postoperative morbidity, supporting its utility in pre-transplant risk stratification.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.15557\/jou.2025.0020","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,30]],"date-time":"2025-12-30T10:02:13Z","timestamp":1767088933000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Ultrasound assessment of abdominal wall muscle thickness in liver transplant recipients and healthy donors: a comparative study for the assessment of sarcopenia"],"prefix":"10.15557","volume":"25","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4433-622X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Shweta","family":"Aghi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Anaesthesia and Critical care, Institute of Liver and Biliary Science, India"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1842-5221","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Udit","family":"Dhingra","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Anaesthesia and Critical care, Institute of Liver and Biliary Science, India"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4646-5853","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gaurav","family":"Sindwani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Anaesthesia and Critical care, Institute of Liver and Biliary Science, India"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3358-8165","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anil","family":"Yadav","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Anaesthesia and Critical care, Institute of Liver and Biliary Science, India"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7664-2603","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jaya","family":"Benjamin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Liver and Biliary Science, India"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3030-6548","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kanika","family":"Bansal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Liver and Biliary Science, India"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2597-8625","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Viniyendra","family":"Pamecha","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"HPB Surgery, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, India"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7642-2881","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Deepak K.","family":"Tempe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Anaesthesia and Critical care, Institute of Liver and Biliary Science, India"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"6250","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,30]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref0","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"1. Bruns H, Lozanovski VJ, Schultze D, Hillebrand N, Hinz U, B\u00fcchler MW, Schemmer P: Prediction of postoperative mortality in liver transplantation in the era of MELD-based liver allocation: a multivariate analysis. PLoS One. 2014; 9: e98782. doi: 10.1371\/journal.pone.0098782.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0098782"},{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"2. Englesbe MJ, Patel SP, He K, Lynch RJ, Schaubel DE, Harbaugh C et al.: Sarcopenia and mortality after liver transplantation. J Am Coll Surg 2010; 211: 271\u2013278. doi: 10.1016\/j.jamcollsurg.2010.03.039.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jamcollsurg.2010.03.039"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"3. Hamaguchi Y, Kaido T, Okumura S, Kobayashi A, Shirai H, Yagi S et al.: Impact of skeletal muscle mass index, intramuscular adipose tissue content, and visceral to subcutaneous adipose tissue area ratio on early mortality of living donor liver transplantation. Transplantation 2017; 101: 565\u2013574. doi: 10.1097\/TP.0000000000001587.","DOI":"10.1097\/TP.0000000000001587"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"4. Aleixo GFP, Shachar SS, Nyrop KA, Muss HB, Battaglini CL, Williams GR: Bioelectrical impedance analysis for the assessment of sarcopenia in patients with cancer: a systematic review. Oncologist 2020; 25: 170\u2013182. doi: 10.1634\/theoncologist.2019-0600.","DOI":"10.1634\/theoncologist.2019-0600"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"5. N\u00ed Bhuachalla \u00c9B, Daly LE, Power DG, Cushen SJ, MacEneaney P, Ryan AM: Computed tomography diagnosed cachexia and sarcopenia in 725 oncology patients: is nutritional screening capturing hidden malnutrition? J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2018; 9: 295\u2013305. doi: 10.1002\/jcsm.12258.","DOI":"10.1002\/jcsm.12258"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"6. E\u015fme M, Karc\u0131o\u011flu O, \u00d6ncel A, Ay\u00e7i\u00e7ek G\u015e, Deniz O, Ula\u015fl\u0131 SS et al.: Ultrasound assessment of sarcopenia in patients with sarcoidosis. J Ultrasound Med 2022; 41: 951\u2013959. doi: 10.1002\/jum.15780.","DOI":"10.1002\/jum.15780"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"7. Puri P, Dhiman RK, Taneja S, Tandon P, Merli M, Anand AC et al.: Nutrition in chronic liver disease: consensus statement of the indian national association for study of the liver. J Clin Exp Hepatol 2021; 11: 97\u2013143. doi: 10.1016\/j.jceh.2020.09.003.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jceh.2020.09.003"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"8. Anand A, Saraya A: Assessment of sarcopenia in chronic liver disease: Indian perspective. Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken) 2021; 18: 164\u2013167. doi: 10.1002\/cld.1142.","DOI":"10.1002\/cld.1142"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"9. Tahan N, Khademi-Kalantari K, Mohseni-Bandpei MA, Mikaili S, Baghban AA, Jaberzadeh S: Measurement of superficial and deep abdominal muscle thickness: an ultrasonography study. J Physiol Anthropol 2016; 35: 17. doi: 10.1186\/s40101-016-0106-6.","DOI":"10.1186\/s40101-016-0106-6"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"10. Coletta G, Phillips SM: An elusive consensus definition of sarcopenia impedes research and clinical treatment: A narrative review. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 86: 101883. doi: 10.1016\/j.arr.2023.101883.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.arr.2023.101883"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"11. Ebadi M, Burra P, Zanetto A, Montano-Loza AJ: Current treatment strategies and future possibilities for sarcopenia in cirrhosis. J Hepatol 2023; 78: 889\u2013892. doi: 10.1016\/j.jhep.2023.01.031.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhep.2023.01.031"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"12. Kim HY, Jang JW.: Sarcopenia in the prognosis of cirrhosis: Going beyond the MELD score. World J Gastroenterol 2015; 21: 7637\u20137647. doi: 10.3748\/wjg.v21.i25.7637.","DOI":"10.3748\/wjg.v21.i25.7637"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"13. Prakash K, Sam AF, K N, Tandon N: Effect of preoperative sarcopenia, malnutrition and functional status on postoperative morbidity following liver transplantation. Prog Transplant 2022; 32: 345\u2013350. doi: 10.1177\/15269248221132255.","DOI":"10.1177\/15269248221132255"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"14. Kalafateli M, Mantzoukis K, Choi Yau Y, Mohammad AO, Arora S, Rodrigues S et al.: Malnutrition and sarcopenia predict post-liver transplantation outcomes independently of the Model for End-stage Liver Disease score. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2017; 8: 113\u2013121. doi: 10.1002\/jcsm.12095.","DOI":"10.1002\/jcsm.12095"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"15. Kaido T, Ogawa K, Fujimoto Y, Ogura Y, Hata K, Ito T et al.: Impact of sarcopenia on survival in patients undergoing living donor liver transplantation. Am J Transplant 2013; 13(6): 1549\u20131556. doi: 10.1111\/ajt.12221.","DOI":"10.1111\/ajt.12221"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"16. Krell RW, Kaul DR, Martin AR, Englesbe MJ, Sonnenday CJ, Cai S, Malani PN: Association between sarcopenia and the risk of serious infection among adults undergoing liver transplantation. Liver Transpl 2013; 19: 1396\u20131402. doi: 10.1002\/lt.23752.","DOI":"10.1002\/lt.23752"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"17. DiMartini A, Cruz RJ Jr, Dew MA, Myaskovsky L, Goodpaster B, Fox K et al.: Muscle mass predicts outcomes following liver transplantation. Liver Transpl. 2013; 19: 1172\u20131180. doi: 10.1002\/lt.23724.","DOI":"10.1002\/lt.23724"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"18. Sarwal A, Parry SM, Berry MJ, Hsu FC, Lewis MT, Justus NW et al.: Interobserver reliability of quantitative muscle sonographic analysis in the critically ill population. J Ultrasound Med 2015; 34: 1191\u20131200. doi: 10.7863\/ultra.34.7.1191.","DOI":"10.7863\/ultra.34.7.1191"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"19. Hogenbirk RNM, Viddeleer AR, Hentzen JEKR, van der Plas WY, van der Schans CP, de Bock GH et al.: Thickness of biceps and quadriceps femoris muscle measured using point-of-care ultrasound as a representation of total skeletal muscle mass. J Clin Med 2022; 11: 6606. doi: 10.3390\/jcm11226606.","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm11226606"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"20. Toptas M, Yalcin M, Akkoc \u0130, Demir E, Metin C, Savas Y et al.: The relation between sarcopenia and mortality in patients at intensive care unit. Biomed Res Int 2018; 2018: 5263208. doi:  10.1155\/2018\/5263208.","DOI":"10.1155\/2018\/5263208"},{"key":"#cr-split#-ref20.1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"21. Enciu VT, Ologeanu PM, Fierbinteanu-Braticevici C: Ultrasound assessment of sarcopenia in alcoholic liver disease. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024","DOI":"10.3390\/diagnostics14171891"},{"key":"#cr-split#-ref20.2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"14: 1891. doi: 10.3390\/diagnostics14171891.","DOI":"10.3390\/diagnostics14171891"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"22. Mahmoud H, Kamal H, El-Liethy N et al.: Value of ultrasound in grading the severity of sarcopenia in patients with hepatic cirrhosis. Egypt J Radiol Nucl Med 2021; 52: 295. doi: 10.1186\/s43055-021-00638-3.","DOI":"10.1186\/s43055-021-00638-3"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"23. Becchetti C, Berzigotti A: Ultrasonography as a diagnostic tool for sarcopenia in patients with cirrhosis: Examining the pros and cons. Eur J Intern Med 2023; 116: 27\u201333. doi: 10.1016\/j.ejim.2023.06.019.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejim.2023.06.019"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"24. Hari A, Berzigotti A, \u0160tabuc B, Caglevi\u010d N: Muscle psoas indices measured by ultrasound in cirrhosis \u2013 Preliminary evaluation of sarcopenia assessment and prediction of liver decompensation and mortality. Dig Liver Dis 2019; 51: 1502\u20131507. doi: 10.1016\/j.dld.2019.08.017.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.dld.2019.08.017"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"25. Dajti E, Renzulli M, Ravaioli F, Marasco G, Vara G, Brandi N et al.: The interplay between sarcopenia and portal hypertension predicts ascites and mortality in cirrhosis. Dig Liver Dis 2023; 55: 637\u2013643. doi: 10.1016\/j.dld.2022.11.011.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.dld.2022.11.011"}],"container-title":["Journal of Ultrasonography"],"original-title":[],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,30]],"date-time":"2025-12-30T10:02:18Z","timestamp":1767088938000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/jultrason.pl\/index.php\/issues\/volume-25-no-101\/ultrasound-assessment-of-abdominal-wall-muscle-thickness-in-liver-transplant-recipients-and-healthy-donors-a-comparative-study-for-the-assessment-of-sarcopenia"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,30]]},"references-count":26,"journal-issue":{"issue":"101","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,30]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.15557\/jou.2025.0020","relation":{},"ISSN":["2084-8404","2451-070X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2084-8404","type":"print"},{"value":"2451-070X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,30]]}}}