Catabolic Illness

A condition characterised by rapid weight loss and loss of fat and skeletal muscle mass, which may occur in a background of either an acute, self-limited disease—e.g., injury, infection—or a chronic condition—e.g.,diabetic ketoacidosis, multisystem organ failure, AIDS, advanced cancer, chemotherapy, radiation therapy
Associated clinical events Immunosuppression, muscle weakness, predisposition to pulmonary embolism, thrombophlebitis, altered stress response
Management Aggressive nutritional support in catabolic diseases may not prevent protein loss; specialised nutrition—e.g., glutamine, arginine, branched-chain amino acids, n-3 (omega-3) fatty acids, growth hormone, possibly IGF-I and EGF—may decrease protein loss, hospitalisation

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