Muscle Gain after Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Creation: Time Course and Prognostic Implications for Survival in Cirrhosis

To examine the association of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation with muscle gains and patient mortality, and to identify the timeframe of these changes.Patients with cirrhosis undergoing TIPS creation with available abdominal computed tomography before and after TIPS from 2004-2015 were included (n = 76). The primary indications for TIPS included refractory ascites (52.6%) or variceal bleeding (47.4%). Axial truncal muscle area and attenuation were measured at the L4 level using free-hand region of interest technique, and pre- and post-TIPS values were compared. The association of TIPS-related muscle changes with mortality was evaluated using Cox multiple regression. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate associations of baseline muscle area and clinical variables with post-TIPS changes.TIPS creation was associated with significant increases in psoas, paraspinal, and total muscle areas (P < .001, 0.004, and 0.002), and psoas muscle attenuation (P = .022) at a median of 13.5 months after TIPS. Maximal muscle gains occurred within 6 months after TIPS creation (P < .001). Muscle gain at 1-year after TIPS was independently associated with lower mortality (psoas hazard ratio [HR] 0.14, P = .016; paraspinal HR 0.15, P = .016; abdominal HR 0.05, P = .005; core HR 0.06, P = .001; and total HR 0.05, P = .003). Baseline demographic or clinical variables were not associated with muscle gain after TIPS.TIPS creation was strongly associated with truncal muscle gains and attenuation in patients with cirrhosis. Maximal muscle gain occurred within 6 months after TIPS creation. TIPS-related increased muscle mass was independently associated with lower patient mortality.