Ultrasound-Based Skeletal Muscle Assessment for Prognostication in Cirrhosis: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Sarcopenia is a major determinant of adverse outcomes in cirrhosis, yet CT- and MRI-based assessments are difficult to implement in routine and longitudinal practice. Ultrasound is a feasible bedside alternative, but its prognostic role remains unclear. We performed a systematic review to evaluate the association between ultrasound-derived skeletal muscle measures and mortality in adults with cirrhosis. METHODS: This review followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251056162). MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library were searched to October 2025. Prospective studies assessing ultrasound-based muscle parameters and mortality in cirrhosis were included. Risk of bias was evaluated using QUIPS. RESULTS: Six prospective studies (n = 731) were included. Heterogeneity in muscle sites, ultrasound protocols, indexation methods, sarcopenia definitions and outcomes precluded meta-analysis. Lower ultrasound-derived muscle measures were consistently associated with higher mortality. In acute decompensation, reduced rectus femoris area predicted 90-day mortality (sHR 0.57; 95% CI 0.38-0.85). Rectus abdominis thickness and psoas indices were also associated with mortality. In hospitalized decompensated cirrhosis, ultrasound-defined sarcopenia was strongly associated with 6-month mortality (HR 6.37; 95% CI 3.15-12.87). In critically ill liver transplant candidates, higher serial rectus femoris muscle area measurements were associated with better survival. In advanced chronic liver disease, sarcopenia was linked to increased 1-year mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In our systematic review, ultrasound-based muscle measures demonstrated a broadly consistent association with mortality; although not yet fully validated, they represent a promising bedside prognostic tool. Standardization is needed before clinical implementation.