Abstract
Cachexia-sometimes also referred to as wasting disease, malnutrition, or hypercatabolism-has been described for centuries and has always raised ominous thoughts that "the end is near." The disease is encountered in many malignant and nonmalignant chronic, ultimately fatal, illnesses. Yet, although cachexia is a deadly syndrome, little is known about its pathophysiology, and the debate regarding its definition is ongoing. Thus, the data on epidemiology can be contested, but a few things are certain: Cachexia is associated with exceedingly high mortality once the syndrome has fully developed, irrespective of the definition we apply, and it is associated with weakness, weight loss, muscle wasting, and inflammation. It is not simply an ancillary event, and it may contribute to the death of the patient either through effects on neuroendocrine and immune defense mechanisms or through protein calorie malnutrition. The therapeutic standard of care for cachexia remains undefined to date, with a few exceptions. Among the recognized approaches, exogenous oral amino acid supplementation appears very promising. Further research efforts are needed and they are ongoing.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | The American Journal of Cardiology |
| Volume | 101 |
| Issue number | 11 SUPPL. |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2 2008 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Cite this
Cachexia : Common, Deadly, With an Urgent Need for Precise Definition and New Therapies. / Lainscak, Mitja; Filippatos, Gerasimos S.; Gheorghiade, Mihai; Fonarow, Gregg C.; Anker, Stefan D.
In: The American Journal of Cardiology, Vol. 101, No. 11 SUPPL., 02.06.2008.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Cachexia
T2 - Common, Deadly, With an Urgent Need for Precise Definition and New Therapies
AU - Lainscak, Mitja
AU - Filippatos, Gerasimos S.
AU - Gheorghiade, Mihai
AU - Fonarow, Gregg C.
AU - Anker, Stefan D.
PY - 2008/6/2
Y1 - 2008/6/2
N2 - Cachexia-sometimes also referred to as wasting disease, malnutrition, or hypercatabolism-has been described for centuries and has always raised ominous thoughts that "the end is near." The disease is encountered in many malignant and nonmalignant chronic, ultimately fatal, illnesses. Yet, although cachexia is a deadly syndrome, little is known about its pathophysiology, and the debate regarding its definition is ongoing. Thus, the data on epidemiology can be contested, but a few things are certain: Cachexia is associated with exceedingly high mortality once the syndrome has fully developed, irrespective of the definition we apply, and it is associated with weakness, weight loss, muscle wasting, and inflammation. It is not simply an ancillary event, and it may contribute to the death of the patient either through effects on neuroendocrine and immune defense mechanisms or through protein calorie malnutrition. The therapeutic standard of care for cachexia remains undefined to date, with a few exceptions. Among the recognized approaches, exogenous oral amino acid supplementation appears very promising. Further research efforts are needed and they are ongoing.
AB - Cachexia-sometimes also referred to as wasting disease, malnutrition, or hypercatabolism-has been described for centuries and has always raised ominous thoughts that "the end is near." The disease is encountered in many malignant and nonmalignant chronic, ultimately fatal, illnesses. Yet, although cachexia is a deadly syndrome, little is known about its pathophysiology, and the debate regarding its definition is ongoing. Thus, the data on epidemiology can be contested, but a few things are certain: Cachexia is associated with exceedingly high mortality once the syndrome has fully developed, irrespective of the definition we apply, and it is associated with weakness, weight loss, muscle wasting, and inflammation. It is not simply an ancillary event, and it may contribute to the death of the patient either through effects on neuroendocrine and immune defense mechanisms or through protein calorie malnutrition. The therapeutic standard of care for cachexia remains undefined to date, with a few exceptions. Among the recognized approaches, exogenous oral amino acid supplementation appears very promising. Further research efforts are needed and they are ongoing.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.amjcard.2008.02.065
DO - 10.1016/j.amjcard.2008.02.065
M3 - Article
C2 - 18514632
AN - SCOPUS:44449112123
VL - 101
JO - American Journal of Cardiology
JF - American Journal of Cardiology
SN - 0002-9149
IS - 11 SUPPL.
ER -