The hypothesis is that in patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites candidate to TIPS, and sarcopenia (identified by a PMA ≤16 cm² at the level of L3), who are at high-risk of 6-month mortality after TIPS placement, a post-TIPS 12 weeks nutritional intervention is associated with improved post-TIPS prognosis.
The primary objective is to evaluate the effect of a post-TIPS 12 weeks nutritional intervention on liver transplant-free six-month survival in sarcopenic candidates to TIPS for refractory ascites in cirrhosis.
men and women with an age ≥ 18 and ≤ 80 years
clinical, radiological or histological diagnosis of liver cirrhosis
diagnosis of RA
confirmation of sarcopenia defined in CT scan as the sum of the psoas muscle areas measured at the level of the 3rd lumbar vertebra (PMA) ≤16 cm2
severe hepatic insufficiency (bilirubin> 5 mg/dl, MELD score> 18, Child-Pugh score> 9)
Congestive heart failure class ≥2 according to New York Heart Association criteria (NYHA)
Active coronary heart disease (myocardial infarction within 6 months of the study)
Severe pulmonary hypertension suspected on echocardiogram (systolic pulmonary arterial pressure [PAPs]> 35 mmHg) and confirmed with right cardiac catheterization (PAPs> 45mmHg)