Revista de Nefrología, Diálisis y Trasplante (Jan 2015)
Sarcopenia in patients with and without chronic renal insufficiency: diagnosis, evaluation and treatment
Abstract
Sarcopenia is defined as the loss of muscle mass and function, not only due to muscle fiber decrease in size but also in number. Highly prevalent in older adults, it also appears in patients with chronic diseases. In the chronic renal failure (CRF), the facts that contribute to its appearance are: chronic disease per se, advanced age, sedentary lifestyle, added to multiple factors which deteriorate the nutritional status such as reduction of in-take associated or not to anorexic drugs, chronic inflammation, anabolic hormone deficit, vitamin D low levels, insulin resistance and gelsolin decrease ( key protein in the assembly and disassembly of actin filaments). Presence of sarcopenia correlates with greater mortality, disability and falls risk increase. Diagnosis is based on measuring muscle strength and physical performance, for the first one a dynamometer is used, and for the second one: walking speed measurement (records the needed period of time to walk a determined distance) and the test “Time Up and Go” (which evaluates the needed period of time to stand up, walk 3 meters and sit down again). In patients with CRF, an appropriate protein ingestion, added to physical activity, (specially resistance exercises) improve physical performance, respiratory aptitude and survival in general, and reduce cardiovascular mortality. Additionally, exercise increases IGF-1 muscle content, as well as the mRNA for insulin-like growth factor type II, muscle oxidative capacity and the number of required satellite cells to regenerate muscle fibers.
