Funding outcome

Sarcopenia (low muscle mass and muscle function) has been recently identified in school-aged children up to 10 years after liver transplantation (LTx). Sarcopenia in these children was associated with repeat hospitalizations after LTx, reduced growth and physical activity. All of these factors may impact health-related quality of life. While low muscle mass (myopenia) has been identified in young infants and children (> 4 years of age) in children with end-stage liver disease before transplantation, no information is available about muscle function in infants and children with myopenia before and after transplantation. This is important to understand, so early screening and treatment can be provided to vulnerable infants. The study purpose is serial measure both muscle mass and muscle function and growth using validated measures at the time of liver transplant assessment, and at 3, 6 and 12 months after liver transplantation in infants and young children between 4 months and 4 years of age. Information from this pilot study will help us identify sarcopenia and lead to earlier treatment for this condition in young infants and children with liver disease before and after LTx.