Lecture 1 | Introduction to cachexia

Question 1

Cachexia phenotypes

Answer 1

1. Skin-and-bones

2. More obese/ sarcopenic obesity -> worst

Question 2

Organs involved in cachexia

Answer 2

Muscle, brain, adipose tissue, liver, gut & heart

Question 3

Definition cachexia

Answer 3

A multifactorial syndrome characterised by an ongoing loss of skeletal muscle mass that cannot be fully reversed by conventional nutritional support and leads to progressive functional impairment.

Question 4

Pathophysiology cachexia (in short)

Answer 4

Characterised by a negative protein and energy balance driven by a variable combiation of reduced food intake and abnormal metabolism.

Question 5

Dose-limiting toxicities

Answer 5

Side effects (toxicities) of a treatment/drug that are serious enough to limit or postpone the next dose.
Higher in sarcopenic populations.

Question 6

Sarcopenic obesity

Answer 6

= Obesity + sarcopenia

Lowest survival -> muscle mass is important independent of BMI.

Question 7

Dose-limiting toxicities in sarcopenic obesity

Answer 7

• Water soluble; lean mass matters, dose to high (toxic)

- Fat soluble; fat mass matters, dose to low (ineffective)

Question 8

Techniques to assess body composition

Answer 8

CT scan (golden standard) or BIA (i.e. phase angle)