Nutritional support in patients with chronic liver disease

• Published in: Nature clinical practice. Gastroenterology & hepatology Vol. 3; no. 4; pp. 202 - 209
• Main Authors: Buchman, Alan L, Henkel, Anne S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Nature Publishing Group 01-04-2006
• Subjects: Care and treatment; Chronic Disease; Complications and side effects; Energy Intake; Enteral Nutrition; Humans; Liver diseases; Liver Diseases - epidemiology; Liver Diseases - surgery; Liver Diseases - therapy; Liver Transplantation; Malnutrition; Malnutrition - epidemiology; Nutrition Assessment; Nutritional Status; Nutritional Support; Parenteral Nutrition; Prevention; Protein-Energy Malnutrition - epidemiology; Risk factors; United States
• ISSN: 1743-4378; 1743-4386
• DOI: 10.1038/ncpgasthep0443

Malnutrition is highly prevalent among patients with chronic liver disease and is nearly universal among patients awaiting liver transplantation. Malnutrition in patients with cirrhosis leads to increased morbidity and mortality rates. Furthermore, patients who are severely malnourished before transplant surgery have a higher rate of complications and a decreased overall survival rate after liver transplantation. In light of the high incidence of malnutrition among patients with chronic liver disease and the complications that result from malnutrition in these patients, it is essential to assess the nutritional status of all patients with liver disease, and to initiate treatment as indicated. This review addresses the etiologies of malnutrition, methods used to assess nutritional status, and appropriate treatment strategies.