Muscle Ultrasound for Sarcopenia Assessment in Kidney Transplant Recipients
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Muscle Ultrasound.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Sarcopenia, Kidney Transplantation, Muscle Wasting. Basic parameters: 18 years — 80 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- China
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
A Prospective Observational Study of Multimodal Muscle Ultrasound for Sarcopenia Assessment in Kidney Transplant Recipients
Overview
This is a single-center prospective observational study designed to evaluate the effectiveness of multimodal muscle ultrasound for the assessment of sarcopenia in kidney transplant recipients. Adult patients undergoing kidney transplantation will undergo both muscle ultrasound and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) at predefined time points before and after transplantation. The primary objective is to evaluate the diagnostic performance of muscle ultrasound for sarcopenia assessment, including its correlation and agreement with BIA-derived skeletal muscle index (BIA-SMI), as well as its diagnostic accuracy. Secondary objectives include describing the longitudinal changes in sarcopenia prevalence and muscle-related parameters from the pre-transplant period to 1 year after transplantation. The study aims to provide evidence for a convenient, noninvasive, radiation-free, and reliable method for sarcopenia assessment in kidney transplant recipients.
Detailed description
Sarcopenia is highly prevalent among patients with end-stage renal disease and is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Although kidney transplantation may improve overall health status, perioperative stress, immunosuppressive therapy, and postoperative metabolic changes may influence muscle mass and function. Reliable assessment of sarcopenia in kidney transplant recipients remains clinically important.
Current methods for sarcopenia assessment include computed tomography (CT), dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). However, CT and DXA are limited by radiation exposure, cost, and accessibility, while BIA may be affected by changes in hydration status, especially in transplant recipients. Muscle ultrasound is a portable, radiation-free, and bedside-available imaging modality that may provide a practical alternative for muscle assessment.
This prospective observational study will enroll adult kidney transplant recipients at Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital. Participants will undergo multimodal muscle ultrasound and BIA examinations at predefined perioperative time points. Ultrasound parameters will include muscle thickness, cross-sectional area, and echogenicity.
The primary study objective is to evaluate the diagnostic performance of muscle ultrasound for sarcopenia assessment using BIA-derived skeletal muscle index (BIA-SMI) as the reference standard. Correlation analysis, intraclass correlation coefficients, Bland-Altman analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis will be performed to evaluate agreement and diagnostic accuracy.
Secondary objectives include evaluating longitudinal changes in muscle-related parameters and sarcopenia prevalence from the pre-transplant period to 1 year after kidney transplantation. Linear mixed-effects models or generalized estimating equations will be used to analyze temporal trends.
This study aims to establish muscle ultrasound as a practical and reliable tool for sarcopenia assessment in kidney transplant recipients and to improve understanding of perioperative muscle changes after transplantation.
Interventions
- Diagnostic test Muscle Ultrasound
Multimodal muscle ultrasound assessment performed for evaluation of sarcopenia in kidney transplant recipients.
Primary outcome measures
- Area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of muscle ultrasound for detecting sarcopenia using BIA-derived skeletal muscle index (BIA-SMI) as the reference standard. [Time frame: From baseline to 1 year after kidney transplantation]
Secondary outcome measures (3)
- Change in Muscle Thickness Measured by Ultrasound [Time frame: From baseline to 1 year after kidney transplantation]
- Change in Muscle Cross-Sectional Area Measured by Ultrasound [Time frame: From baseline to 1 year after kidney transplantation]
- Change in Muscle Echogenicity Measured by Ultrasound [Time frame: From baseline to 1 year after kidney transplantation]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Adult patients aged 18 years or older
- Patients scheduled to undergo kidney transplantation
- Ability to undergo muscle ultrasound and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)
- Ability to provide written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
- Patients with severe limb deformity or conditions preventing muscle ultrasound assessment
- Patients with implanted electronic devices contraindicating BIA assessment
- Inability to complete study assessments
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
Study locations
China · 1 center
- Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital — Chengdu
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07607236 · 2026-304