Physical performance and health-related quality of life in men on a liver transplantation waiting list

Twenty-six men on a liver transplant waiting list (12 had alcoholic cirrhos is, 8 suffered from posthepatitic cirrhosis, and 6 from cirrhosis of other etiologies) were eligible for this observation. Nineteen subjects underwent exercise testing to determine oxygen uptake at anaerobic threshold. In all patients dynamometry was performed to determine isokinetic muscle strength of knee extensor muscles, and handgrip. Quality of life was evaluated in a ll patients with the MOS SF-36 questionnaire. Child-Pugh A patients showed 54 +/- 8%, Child-Pugh B patients 36 +/- 2%, and Child-Pugh C patients 31 +/ - 4% Of VO2-max predicted at the anaerobic threshold (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA, p < 0.05). Isokinetic muscle strength of the quadriceps femoris (left/righ t) was 149 +/- 20/134 +/- 14 Nm in Child-Pugh A, 108 +/- 16/114 +/- 19 Nm i n Child-Pugh B, and 89 +/- 10/81 +/- 11 Nm in Child-Pugh C patients (Kruska l-Wallis ANOVA, p < 0.05). MOS-SF36 revealed a Child-Pugh class dependent r educed functional status (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA, p < 0.05). No significant d ifferences in target parameters were found when analysed according to the e tiology of cirrhosis. Patients on the liver transplant waiting list do have a stage dependent reduction in physical health. These data are the basis f or longitudinal studies measuring the effects of preoperative rehabilitatio n programs in these patients.