Reduced bone mineral density is associated to post-TIPS survival of female patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

Background: Malnutrition is common in patients with cirrhosis, eventually leading to sarcopenia and loss of bone mass.

Aims: The aims of this study was the assessment of body composition (BC) and bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and the prognostic impact on survival after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) implantation.

Methods: BMD and BC of 107 patients with cirrhosis undergoing TIPS implantation were prospectively analyzed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.