Chronic liver disease and musculoskeletal disorders

Potential links between chronic liver disease and musculoskeletal disorders are of interest to scientists, but causal relationships have yet to be evaluated. In this study, researchers used Mendelian randomization analyses to look for causal links between viral hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma on the one hand, and osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and sarcopenia on the other. Primary sclerosing cholangitis is causally linked with bone mineral density in the forearm and overall risk of osteoarthritis. Hepatocellular carcinoma is causally linked with reduced grip strength.