Liver Transplantation and Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Is Associated with Markers of...

Liver transplant (LT) recipients are at high risk of cardiometabolic disease and mortality. However, routinely employed clinical risk tools have sub-optimal diagnostic performance due to transplant related biological changes. Metabolic vulnerability index (MVX) is a serum-based composite biomarker comprised of nutritional risk [metabolic malnutrition index or MMX] and chronic inflammation [inflammatory vulnerability index or IVX]. MVX is a predictor of cardiovascular risk and all-cause mortality in the general population, however, the effect of LT on MVX is unknown.

To better quantify MVX after transplantation, LT recipients (n = 181) prospectively enrolled in a natural history study were matched with non transplant controls from the MESA study of healthy individuals. All controls were matched 1:1 regarding age and gender. Additionally, lean controls were identified as those with BMI < 25 kg/m² and BMI-matched controls who were propensity matched for BMI.

Compared to matched controls, LT recipients had significantly higher MVX (56.9 ± 10.1 vs. 45.8 ± 9.4 vs. 44.8 ± 9.3, p < 0.001), IVX [53.1 ± 12 vs. 39.3 ± 11.2 vs. 40.2 ± 10.9, p < 0.001), and MMX (58.7 ± 8.2 vs. 55.4 ± 6.5 vs. 53.1 ± 6.0, p < 0.001). No significant differences were noted in MVX in LT recipients who developed metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) after LT. In a multivariate analysis, MVX scores were positively associated with female gender, diabetes, serum AST and BMI, and negatively with dyslipidemia.

LT is associated with a significant increase in MVX and its components, suggesting a heightened risk in LT recipients that is above that of the non-LT population. Future well designed prospective studies are required to calibrate MVX to clinical outcomes in LT patients.