| Abstract: | Background/Aim: Hormonal changes and hepatic osteodystrophy are less often studied complications of cirrhosis. This study describes the variance in hormones and osteodystrophy between Frail and Not frail patients with cirrhosis. Methods: 116 outpatients with cirrhosis were prospectively enrolled in this study. Frailty assessment was done using Liver Frailty Index (LFI). Sociodemographic assessment, anthropometry, nutritional assessment, hormone profile, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan were done in all patients. Results: 116 patients, predominantly males (100 (86.2%) with mean age of 50.16 years (95% CI, 48.43-51.89) were included. Malnutrition was more common in Frail group as compared to Not frail group. Subjective global assessment (SGA) class-B patients were significantly more in Frail group (37 (74%) vs 3 (4.5%), P = 0.001). The prevalence of lower parathyroid hormone (PTH) (14 (28%) vs 2 (3%)), testosterone (33 (66%) vs 15 (22.7%)), vitamin D3 (44 (88%) vs 39 (59.1%)), and cortisol (37 (74%) vs 37 (56.1) levels was higher in Frail group (P < 0.05). The number of patients diagnosed with osteodystrophy (34 (68%) vs 21 (31.8%), P = 0.001) was significantly higher in Frail group. The marker of osteoclastic activity, β-cross laps, was significantly elevated in the Frail group both in males (736 (655-818) vs 380 (329-432), P = 0.001) and (females 619 (479-758) vs 313 (83-543), P = 0.02). Bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar spine (LS) and neck of femur (NF) had significant correlation with LFI (ρ = 0.60, P = 0.001 for LS and ρ = 0.59, P = 0.001 for NF), serum testosterone (ρ = 0.58, P = 0.001 for LS and ρ = 0.53, P = 0.001 for NF), β-cross laps (ρ = 0.38, P = 0.001for LS and ρ = 0.35, P = 0.000 for NF), vitamin D3 (ρ = 0.23, P = 0.04 for LS and ρ = 0.25, P = 0.01 for NF), PTH (ρ = 0.52, P = 0.001 for LS and ρ = 0.48. P = 0.001 for NF), and cortisol (ρ = 0.50, P = 0.001 for LS and ρ = 0.45, P = 0.001 for NF) levels. Conclusion: This is the first study that highlights the high prevalence of hormonal changes and hepatic osteodystrophy in frail patients with cirrhosis and opens a new dimension for research and target of therapy in this field. |
