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.