Myosteatosis as a New Risk Factor of Surgical Complications in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Computed tomography (CT) scan-defined myosteatosis is a common feature in ESKD patients receiving kidney transplantation (KT) and is associated with mortality after KT. We aimed to explore the impact of myosteatosis and other CT scan based morphometric data on the occurrence of early surgical complications after KT.

Methods: We retrospectively measured on an unenhanced cross-sectional CT scan taken at the middle of the third lumbar vertebra performed within the previous year or at the time of KT: surface muscle index (total lumbar cross-sectional muscle area [CSMA] divided by height squared), subcutaneaous adipose tissue index, visceral adipose tissue index and muscle density (MD: mean CT attenuation of CSMA).