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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #57218
Title: THE NUTRITION IMPLICATIONS OF CARDIAC CACHEXIA

Author
item FREEMAN LISA M - TUFTS-HNRCA
item ROUBENOFF RONENN - TUFTS-HNRCA

Submitted to: Nutrition Reviews
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/1994
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Not required.

Technical Abstract: Weight loss is a frequent sequela in patients with congestive heart failure and is commonly referred to as cardiac cachexia. This weight loss is unlike that seen in simple starvation because it preferentially involves the depletion of lean body mass. In addition, the presence of cardiac cachexia can have profound clinical implications for patients in terms of complications, clinical outcome, and overall cost. The mechanism for the alterations in body composition is multifactorial, but a major cause may be the cytokine-mediated host response to the underlying disease.