Irisin in Liver Cirrhosis.

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Endocrinology
• Muscle Physiology

Background:

• Sarcopenia, a loss of muscle mass and strength, is common in decompensated advanced chronic liver disease (dACLD).
• Irisin, a myokine involved in metabolic regulation, is investigated for its role in cirrhosis.
• This study explores the relationship between irisin, sarcopenia, and liver disease severity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To measure serum irisin levels in patients with dACLD.
• To assess irisin levels across different cirrhosis stages and etiologies.
• To analyze the association between sarcopenia indicators and serum irisin.

Main Methods:

• Serum irisin concentrations were determined using ELISA kits in 88 cirrhotic patients.
• Muscle mass parameters included hand-grip strength (HGS), mid-arm muscle circumference (MAC), and transversal psoas muscle index (TPMI).
• Liver disease severity was assessed using Child-Pugh (CTP) and model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in serum irisin levels were found based on CTP/MELD scores or the presence of ascites.
• Serum irisin levels showed no association with MAC or TPMI, but a significant negative correlation with age (r = -0.35, p < 0.001).
• Liver Frailty Index (LFI) was higher in patients with more advanced liver disease.

Conclusions:

• Serum irisin levels do not correlate with sarcopenia in dACLD patients.
• Irisin levels did not differ between cirrhotic patients with or without diabetes, nor with varying dACLD severity.
• While irisin is not linked to sarcopenia in this cohort, LFI increases with liver disease progression.