Muscaritoli et al listed criteria for a diagnosis of pre-cachexia. This can help to identify a patient at risk and to initiate an intervention before the full syndrome develops. The authors are from multiple hospitals in Europe.
Criteria for pre-cachexia - all of the following:
(1) an underyling chronic disease (see below)
(2) unintentional weight loss <= 5% of usual body weight during the past 6 months
(3) chronic or recurrent systemic inflammatory response (SIR) with elevated C-reactive protein
(4) anorexia or anorexia-related symptoms
Chronic diseases associated with cachexia may include:
(1) cancer
(2) COPD
(3) chronic heart failure (CHF)
(4) chronic renal failure
(5) chronic liver disease
(6) AIDS
(7) rheumatoid arthritis
(8) tuberculosis or other chronic infection
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