{
  "abstract": "Introduction Sarcopenia, defined by reduced muscle mass and strength, is an important complication in systemic sclerosis (SSc), contributing to morbidity and mortality. Gastrointestinal (GI) involvement, seen in ~90% of patients, worsens quality of life, prognosis, and predisposes to malnutrition and sarcopenia. This study aimed to assess sarcopenia in SSc and its relationship with GI involvement and malnutrition.Material and Methods Clinical, demographic, and laboratory data of 70 SSc patients fulfilling the 2013 ACR/EULAR classification criteria were recorded. Malnutrition risk was assessed by the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST). Sarcopenia was determined using the EWGSOP2 and ISarcoPRM criteria. Muscle strength was measured by handgrip strength and the chair stand test; muscle mass was assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and ultrasonography. Gastrointestinal involvement was evaluated using the UCLA GIT 2.0, and disease activity was assessed by the revised EUSTAR index. Functional assessment included the SARC-F and FRAIL questionnaires.Results The study included 70 patients (65 female, 5 male; median age 52 [IQR: 43–62] years). Diffuse cutaneous involvement was observed in 8% (n=6). Malnutrition risk assessed by MUST was low in 68.6% (n=48), moderate in 8.6% (n=6), and high in 22.9%(n=16). According to the EWGSOP2 algorithm, 40 patients (57.1%) had low muscle strength and were classified as probable sarcopenia; BIA confirmed sarcopenia in 8 patients (11.4%). Based on ISarcoPRM criteria using quadriceps thickness measured by ultrasonography, 9 patients (12.9%) had sarcopenia. Sarcopenic patients had significantly lower SMMI values (0.94 vs. 0.83; p=0.006). Functional assessments showed higher SARC-F and FRAIL scores in sarcopenic patients. Cohen’s Kappa coefficient between the two diagnostic methods was 0.40, indicating moderate agreement. GIS involvement was present in 87% of patients, most commonly reflux (72.5%). Median UCLA GIT 2.0 total score was 0.22(0.1–0.43), with 77.9% (n=53) mild, 17.6% (n=12) moderate, and 4.4% (n=3) severe involvement. No significant association was found between sarcopenia and UCLA GIT 2.0 scores.Conclusions In patients with systemic sclerosis, sarcopenia was identified in 11.4% according to the EWGSOP2 criteria and in 12.9% according to the ISarcoPRM criteria; moreover, approximately one-third of the patients were found to be at moderate or high risk of malnutrition. Sarcopenia was not associated with the revised EUSTAR index, malnutrition, or UCLA GIT 2.0 scores. Our findings suggest that sarcopenia may represent disease-related damage in SSc. These results highlight the importance of a comprehensive approach in routine follow-up of SSc patients, including not only disease activity but also nutritional status, gastrointestinal symptoms, muscle strength, and muscle mass.Abstract P.183 Table 1Clinical characteristics of patients identified as sarcopenic according to the ISarcoPRM algorithm (n = 70)",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Marmara University School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Istanbul, Turkey"
      ],
      "name": "Aysegul Avcu"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Marmara University School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine"
      ],
      "name": "Zeynep Dilara Selcuk"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Marmara University School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Istanbul, Turkey"
      ],
      "name": "Haner Direskeneli"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Marmara University School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Istanbul, Turkey"
      ],
      "name": "Fatma Alibaz-Oner"
    }
  ],
  "title": "P.183 Evaluation of the relationship between sarcopenia, gastrointestinal involvement and malnutrition in systemic sclerosis",
  "uid": "dac6cda2-fa51-58e5-87c4-e86269abe8c1"
}