Untangling the fibers of sarcopenia: activin A in chronic kidney disease–associated muscle wasting

Skeletal muscle abnormalities, including sarcopenia, are commonly seen in patients with moderate to advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). Patients with CKD and coexisting sarcopenia have increased mortality along with decreased quality of life, increased frailty scores, and reduced physical functionality. The pathogenesis of CKD-associated sarcopenia is complex and multifactorial, leading to great interest in understanding this disease process. 1 Ikizler T.A. Burrowes J.D. Byham-Gray L.D. et al. KDOQI Clinical Practice Guideline for Nutrition in CKD: 2020 update. Am J Kidney Dis. 2020; 76: S1-S107 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (698) Google Scholar Such advances would eventually lead to the discovery of novel targeted therapies for CKD-associated muscle wasting that could potentially improve the quality of life of substantial numbers of patients.