Effect of physical training on clinical and laboratory parameters in patients with compensated liver cirrhosis

Abstract

We studied effect of physical training on clinical and laboratory parameters in 5 patients with well compensated liver cirrhosis. The patients performed exercise on a bicycle ergometer for 30 minutes a day, three days a week for 5 months. Exercise load of each patient was determined as anaerobic threshold (AT) by the gradually progressive exercise stress test. In anthropometric measurements, the lean body mass was maintained while the skinfold thickness decreased after training. Serum transaminase activities, total bilirubin concentration and alkaline phosphatase activity were slightly increased after training. Although plasma total amino acids level was not affected, plasma 3-methylhistidine level significantly decreased (p<0.05) to the normal range, suggesting the reduced emaciation of skeletal muscles. Recoveries of AT and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), which had been reduced before training as compared with control, tended to increase after training. Subjective symptoms including fatigue were also improved (p<0.05). In summary, these results indicate that appropriate training by aerobic exercise has beneficial effects on the patients with well compensated liver cirrhosis. © 1993, The Japan Society of Hepatology. All rights reserved.