Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41624485›Full record

ArticleJHEP reports : innovation in hepatology2026

Outcomes after TIPS in patients with cirrhosis and sarcopenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Maria de Brito Nunes, Maria Gabriela Delgado, Jaume Bosch, Annalisa Berzigotti

Abstract read
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Article in JHEP reports : innovation in hepatology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Maria de Brito NunesDepartment of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Maria Gabriela DelgadoDepartment of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Jaume BoschDepartment of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Annalisa BerzigottiDepartment of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background & Aims: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is an established treatment for complications of portal hypertension (variceal bleeding and refractory ascites). Sarcopenia affects 40-70% of patients with cirrhosis. We evaluated the improvement in sarcopenia after TIPS, the proportion of patients developing overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE) after TIPS and its association with sarcopenia, and the association between sarcopenia and mortality after TIPS. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Eligible studies included adults with cirrhosis and sarcopenia assessed by computed tomography (CT), using the skeletal muscle index (L3-SMI), or psoas muscle index (L3-PMI). We searched in eight databases for randomized trials, cohort studies, and case-control, cross-sectional, and case series studies. Results: Twenty studies were included. The pooled prevalence of sarcopenia in patients with cirrhosis undergoing TIPS was 55.4% (95% CI 41.7-68.2%). Among these, sarcopenia improved in 57% of patients (95% CI 48-65%) after TIPS, with a mean L3-SMI increase of 4.53 cm Conclusions: In patients with cirrhosis and sarcopenia, TIPS is often followed by an improvement in sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is associated with higher odds of overt HE, whereas the effect of sarcopenia on mortality after TIPS remains uncertain. Impact and implications: Sarcopenia affects over half of patients with cirrhosis undergoing transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement. This meta-analysis shows that TIPS is associated with sarcopenia improvement in >50% of patients, suggesting potential benefits beyond portal pressure reduction. Sarcopenia increases the risk of overt hepatic encephalopathy, whereas its effect on post-TIPS mortality remains inconclusive. These findings support routine assessment of sarcopenia to improve risk stratification and clinical decision-making. However, results should be interpreted cautiously because of study heterogeneity and the retrospective nature of the included data. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings and refine patient selection for TIPS.

Indexed as

CirrhosisHepatic encephalopathyMortality after TIPSPortal hypertensionSarcopeniaTransjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS)

Identifiers

PMID41624485
PMCPMC12857352

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