Branched-chain amino acids supplementation improves liver frailty index in frail compensated cirrhotic patients: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Physical frailty is related with morbidity and mortality in patients with cirrhosis. Currently, there is no approved treatment of frailty in these patients. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of 16 weeks branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) supplementation on frailty in frail compensated cirrhotic patients. METHODS: After a 4-week run-in period consisted of dietary and exercise counseling, compensated cirrhotic patients with frailty, defined by liver frailty index (LFI)≥4.5, were randomly assigned (1:1) to BCAA or control group. The BCAA group received twice daily BCAAs supplementation (210 kcal, protein 13.5 g, BCAA 2.03 g) for 16 weeks. The primary outcome was frailty reversion. The secondary outcomes were changes in biochemistries, body composition evaluated by bioelectrical impedance analysis, and quality of life (QoL). RESULTS: 54 patients were prospectively enrolled (age 65.5 ± 9.9 years, 51.9% female, Child-Pugh A/B 68.5%/31.5%, MELD 10.3 ± 3.1). Baseline characteristics were similar between both groups. At week 16, BCAA group had a significant improvement in LFI (-0.36 ± 0.3 vs. -0.15 ± 0.28, P = 0.01), BMI (+ 0.51 ± 1.19 vs. -0.49 ± 1.89 kg/m2, P = 0.03), and serum albumin (+ 0.26 ± 0.27 vs. +0.06 ± 0.3 g/dl, P = 0.01). The proportion of frailty reversion at week 16 was significantly higher in BCAA group (36% vs. 0%, P < 0.001). Compared with baseline, BCAA group had a significant increase in skeletal muscle index (7.5 ± 1.6 to 7.8 ± 1.5 kg/m2, P = 0.03). Regarding the QoL, only the BCAA group had a significant improvement in all 4 domains of physical component score of the SF-36 questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: A 16-week BCAA supplementation improved frailty in frail compensated cirrhotic patients. In addition, this intervention resulted in an improvement of muscle mass and physical domain of QoL in these patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered with Thai Clinical Trial Registry (TCTR20210928001; https://www.thaiclinicaltrials.org/# ).

Passage of intestinal casts-An unusual presentation of Cytomegalovirus enterocolitis.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the leading opportunistic pathogens affecting immunocompromised patients. We report a case of histologically-confirmed extensive CMV enterocolitis in a young woman after receiving rituximab and tocilizumab for the treatment of autoimmune encephalitis. During the antiviral treatment, she spontaneously excreted small intestinal casts per oral and colonic casts per anus. Even though intestinal cast is an extremely unusual condition, CMV infection should be included in the differential diagnosis.