Table 4.
Clinical characteristics of 12 liver transplant recipients who had biopsies from lower abdominal SAT.
| Characteristics | High SAT radiodensity (n = 4) | Low SAT radiodensity (n = 8) | p value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age at liver transplant | 42 ± 8 | 51 ± 12 | 0.28 |
| Sex, female | 3 (75) | 2 (25) | 0.15 |
| MELD score | 24 ± 5 | 19 ± 8 | 0.11 |
| Sodium (mmol/L) | 133 ± 3 | 135 ± 3 | 0.28 |
| Albumin (g/L) | 30 ± 5 | 33 ± 9 | 0.57 |
| HCC | 0 (0) | 2 (25) | 0.42 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 22 ± 1 | 26 ± 4 | 0.03 |
| SAT radiodensity∗ (HU) | -63 ± 11 | -92 ± 8 | 0.004 |
| SAT cross-sectional area (cm2) | 76 ± 47 | 221 ± 108 | 0.005 |
| SAT index (cm2/m2) | 28 ± 18 | 74 ± 36 | 0.01 |
| Subcutaneous adipocyte cross-sectional area (μm2) | 744 ± 400 | 1,521 ± 1,035 | <0.001 |
| Sarcopenia† | 2 (50) | 3 (38) | 0.68 |
Non-parametric tests were used. HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; HU, Hounsfield units; MELD, model for end-stage liver disease; SAT, subcutaneous adipose tissue; SMI, skeletal muscle index.
∗
High SAT radiodensity was defined as SAT radiodensity >-83 HU in females and >-74 HU in males.
†
Sarcopenia was defined using established cut-offs in patients with cirrhosis as SMI <50 cm2/m2 in males and <39 cm2/m2 in females.17