Impact of liver cirrhosis on nutritional and immunological status

The aims of the study were to determine the prevalence of protein calorie malnutrition (PCM) in Thai cirrhotic patients and to evaluate nutritional and immunological status in various stages of cirrhosis. Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) and anthropometric measurement were used as nutritional assessment in sixty cirrhotic patients. Delayed-type hypersensitivity skin test, lymphocyte count, immunoglobulin and complement were assessed for immune status. Blood samples were sent for routine tests, prealbumin, thiamine and riboflavin level. There were 7/60 (11.7%) patients with percentage of ideal body weight (%IBW) less than 90 per cent. SGA, hemoglobin, protein indices and cholesterol level showed the deterioration of nutritional status in the late stage of the disease. Five (8.3%) patients with thiamine deficiency, and thirteen (21.7%) patients with riboflavine deficiency were detected. Lowest levels of complement and highest levels of immunoglobulin also occurred in the late stage of the disease. In conclusion, defining %IBW <90 per cent as malnutrition, the prevalence of malnutrition in Thai cirrhotic patients was 11.7 per cent. Nutritional and immunological status deteriorated according to the advanced stage of disease. If nutritional support is given in the early stage, it may improve nutritional status and reduce morbidity and mortality in cirrhotic patients.