In cirrhotic patients reduced muscle strength is unrelated to muscle capacity for ATP turnover suggesting a central limitation

Background and aims:  We investigated whether in patients with liver cirrhosis reduced muscle strength is related to dysfunction of muscle mitochondria. Methods:  The mitochondrial respiratory capacity of the tibial anterior muscle was evaluated in seven patients and eight healthy control subjects by (31) P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((31) PMRS) to express ATP turnover in vivo and by respirometry of permeabilized fibres from the same muscle to express the in vitro capacity for oxygen consumption. Results:  Maximal voluntary contraction force for plantar extension was low in the patients (46% of the control value; P