DIMINISHED HAND GRIP STRENGTH AND CIRRHOSIS: PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS.

Background: Sarcopenia is a syndrome characterized by progressive and generalized loss of muscle mass and strength, observed to varying degrees in patients with various chronic conditions. In cirrhotic patients, it reflects protein-energy malnutrition due to metabolic protein imbalance and is associated with worsened prognosis and reduced post-liver transplantation survival.

Objective: To evaluate the epidemiological distribution of diminished hand grip (HG) strength in cirrhotic patients at an outpatient clinic of Santa Casa de Misericórdia in Vitória-ES, Brazil, seeking its association with liver function and cirrhosis complications.

Multimodality Screening of Hepatic Nodules in Patients With Congenital Heart Disease After Fontan Procedure: Role of Ultrasound, ARFI Elastography, CT, and MRI.

Objective: Currently, there is no consensus in the literature regarding the screening of hepatic nodules in patients who have undergone the Fontan procedure. The objectives of this study are to evaluate in this population the frequency of hepatic nodules at ultrasound (US), CT, and MRI; to measure liver stiffness using acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography; and to investigate predictive factors for hepatic nodules.

Subjects And Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 49 patients who underwent the Fontan procedure were prospectively recruited from August 2014 through June 2016.