MRI-Based Assessment of Etiology-Specific Sarcopenia Phenotypes in Chronic Liver Disease: A Comparative Study of MASH and Viral Hepatitis.

ABSTRACT: Background: Sarcopenia is a clinically important complication of chronic liver disease (CLD), but its underlying mechanisms may differ according to disease etiology. Quantitative MRI biomarkers, including proton density fat fraction (PDFF) and magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), may help characterize etiology-specific patterns of muscle loss. This study aimed to explore etiology-specific associations between MRI-derived biomarkers and sarcopenia, with a particular focus on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and viral hepatitis. Methods: This retrospective single-center study included 131 CLD patients (77 with MASH, 54 with viral hepatitis) who underwent MRI, including PDFF and MRE. Sarcopenia was defined by L2 skeletal muscle index thresholds (<42 cm

SUBMITTER: Yasutomi M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12839808 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature