PURPOSE: Patients with cirrhosis often experience muscle cramps with varying severity. We investigated the factors associated with the prevalence and morbidity associated with muscle cramps. METHODS: A total of 150 adult patients with cirrhosis were enrolled consecutively. Cramp questionnaire with visual analogue scale for pain, Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ), and blood for measurement of 25-(OH) vitamin D levels were obtained after informed consent. RESULTS: A total of 101 patients (67%) reported muscle cramps in the preceding 3 months. Patients with cramps had significantly lower serum albumin (3.1±0.6 g/dL vs 3.3±0.7 g/dL, P=.04) and CLDQ scores (107±37 vs 137±34, P<.0001) compared with those without cramps. The median composite symptom score, defined as product of frequency and severity of cramps, in the study cohort was 12 with a range of 0.3 to 200. There were no clinical or biochemical predictors for occurrence of any cramps or severe cramps (composite symptom score>12). Muscle cramps (P<.001) and hepatic encephalopathy (P=.009) were associated independently with decreased CLDQ scores. Vitamin D deficiency was seen in 66% of the study cohort, but the serum 25-(OH) vitamin D levels were not significantly different between patients with and without cramps (18.0±8.9 ng/mL vs 19.6±9.5 ng/mL, P=.49). CONCLUSIONS: Muscle cramps are associated with significantly diminished quality of life in patients with cirrhosis. More research is needed to better understand their mechanism to develop effective treatment.
PURPOSE:Patients with cirrhosis often experience muscle cramps with varying severity. We investigated the factors associated with the prevalence and morbidity associated with muscle cramps. METHODS: A total of 150 adult patients with cirrhosis were enrolled consecutively. Cramp questionnaire with visual analogue scale for pain, Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ), and blood for measurement of 25-(OH) vitamin D levels were obtained after informed consent. RESULTS: A total of 101 patients (67%) reported muscle cramps in the preceding 3 months. Patients with cramps had significantly lower serum albumin (3.1±0.6 g/dL vs 3.3±0.7 g/dL, P=.04) and CLDQ scores (107±37 vs 137±34, P<.0001) compared with those without cramps. The median composite symptom score, defined as product of frequency and severity of cramps, in the study cohort was 12 with a range of 0.3 to 200. There were no clinical or biochemical predictors for occurrence of any cramps or severe cramps (composite symptom score>12). Muscle cramps (P<.001) and hepatic encephalopathy (P=.009) were associated independently with decreased CLDQ scores. Vitamin D deficiency was seen in 66% of the study cohort, but the serum 25-(OH) vitamin D levels were not significantly different between patients with and without cramps (18.0±8.9 ng/mL vs 19.6±9.5 ng/mL, P=.49). CONCLUSIONS:Muscle cramps are associated with significantly diminished quality of life in patients with cirrhosis. More research is needed to better understand their mechanism to develop effective treatment.
Authors: S A Turken; M Cafferty; S J Silverberg; L De La Cruz; C Cimino; D J Lange; R E Lovelace; J P Bilezikian Journal: Am J Med Date: 1989-11 Impact factor: 4.965
Authors: Nneka N Ufere; David L O'Riordan; Kara E Bischoff; Angela K Marks; Nwamaka Eneanya; Raymond T Chung; Vicki Jackson; Steven Z Pantilat; Areej El-Jawahri Journal: J Pain Symptom Manage Date: 2019-07-19 Impact factor: 3.612
Authors: Tanya Lehky; Iago Pinal Fernandez; Elizabeth F Krakow; Laura Connelly-Smith; Rachel B Salit; Phuong Vo; Masumi Ueda Oshima; Lynn Onstad; Paul A Carpenter; Mary E Flowers; Stephanie J Lee Journal: Transplant Cell Ther Date: 2022-06-16