Sarcopenia is a common complication in liver cirrhosis patients and has been confirmed that associated with poor prognosis. China has the world's largest burden of hepatitis B virus-related liver cirrhosis (HBV-related liver cirrhosis). However, the relationship between HBV-related liver cirrhosis patients with muscle mass loss and normal muscle mass is remain largely unknown. Our study aimed to reveal the metabolic profile and identify potential biomarkers of muscle mass loss in HBV-related liver cirrhosis.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. the diagnostic criteria for decompensation of liver cirrhosis of chronic viral hepatitis B formulated according to the Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Liver Cirrhosis issued by the Chinese Society of Hepatology in 2019
2. The diagnosis of muscle mass loss conforms to SMI less than 46.96 cm²/m² for males and less than 32.46 cm²/m² for females
3. Patients aged between 18 and 60 years old
4. Patients with no history of drinking or abstinence for more than 1 year
5. Voluntary participants with informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

1) the etiology of cirrhosis without hepatitis B virus (HBV), such as cirrhosis, alcoholic cirrhosis, autoimmune cirrhosis, and so on; 2) the age of patients over 60 years old; 3) patients with acute, chronic and acute liver failure; 4) other diseases which can lead to the secondary muscle depletion, such as chronic disease in heart, lung, kidney, brain, and malignant tumor; 5) neurodegenerative diseases or muscle degenerative diseases; 6) perioperative patients; 7) patients without CT scan within 3 months; 8) patients who have exercise habits with the Physical Activity Rating Scale-3 (PARS-3) > 19 points

Patients with HBV-related liver cirrhosis were recruited between August 2021 and June 2022 at the Affiliated hospital of Qingdao University. All of the patients are in the decompensation stage of hepatitis B cirrhosis and divided them into two groups. One group is named cirrhosis with muscle mass loss, the other group is named liver cirrhosis with normal muscle mass. People in healthy control group were excluded metabolic diseases. Each group of patients is about 20.