Characteristics of muscle function and the effect of cachexia in patients with haematological malignancy

In this study, we investigated the muscle function of patients with haematological malignancy and healthy controls and examined the effect of cachexia on muscle function.

Seventy-one patients with haematological malignancy, hospitalised for chemotherapy, and 71 healthy controls underwent examination of skeletal muscle mass (SMM; total body and upper and lower limbs), handgrip strength and isometric knee extensor strength. Patients with haematological malignancy were divided into three groups based on Glasgow Prognostic Score: non-cachexia (n = 31), pre-cachexia (n = 23) and cachexia (n = 17) groups. The evaluation items were compared among the groups.

Patients with haematological malignancy had lower SMM of the total body and lower limbs, handgrip strength and isometric knee extensor strength than healthy controls. There was no significant difference in SMM of the upper limbs among the groups. When classifying patients with haematological malignancy according to GPS, there was no significant difference among the three groups for any of the evaluation items.

In patients with haematological malignancy, although significant muscle wasting and weakness were observed in the lower limbs, the effect of cachexia was minimal. The reduction in muscle function involved disuse syndrome, which accompanied a decline in physical activity.