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Signs of Cachexia

Cachexia is a condition where the patient loses mass amounts of weight and body fat. It is known as a wasting syndrome. Cancer patients, AIDS patients and those with anorexia can all develop cachexia. Other chronic diseases may also cause cachexia. Cachexia is different from starvation in that the body cannot absorb the nutrients that are ingested.

  1. Signs of Cachexia

    • The primary sign of cachexia is severe weight loss. Severe weight loss is characterized by a person losing more than 10 percent of their total body weight. Along with the weight loss is a loss of appetite and taste. In addition, those with cachexia suffer from fatigue, weakness, loss of muscle mass and electrolyte imbalance. Cachexia also leads to a weak immune system making the patient more susceptible to other illnesses. Cachexia rarely occurs without being accompanied by another illness such as cancer, HIV or chronic heart failure.

    Facts About Cachexia

    • About half of all cancer patients will suffer from cachexia. Cancer patients with hematological malignancies and breast cancer rarely develop cachexia. Eighty percent of patients with gastrointestinal cancers and 60 percent of those with lung cancer already show signs of cachexia when they are diagnosed. Cachexia is present in almost 100 percent of cancer patients who die as a result of their illness.

    Causes of Cachexia

    • Although the causes of cancer and other illnesses may be uncertain, cachexia is linked to cytokines. Cytokines are produced in the body when there are signs of malignancy. Cytokines attempt to defend the body against the malignancy. Cytokines are present in cachexia and other wasting illnesses as well. As the body tries to repair itself, valuable energy and amino acids are pulled from the muscles, causing extreme fatigue and muscle loss.

    Treatment of Cachexia

    • The best way to treat cachexia is to treat the underlying cause such as the cancer or heart condition. However, there are some treatments that are used specifically for cachexia. To increase lean muscle mass, cachexia patients can combine prescription steroids with a high protein diet and exercise. Anti-inflammatory medications help patients be able to exercise to keep or build muscles. Ongoing research continues in terms of treatments for cachexia, including using omega 3 to reduce cytokine development and the use of melatonin, chained amino acids and antiserotogenic drugs.

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