Abstract: Objective　To observe the changes of body fluid distribution in patients with primary liver cancer (PLC) and to provide the basis for nutritional evaluation of PLC patients. Methods　Eighty patients with PLC were divided into group A, group B and group C according to the Child-Pugh classification of liver function. Twenty-four healthy people were included as normal control group (group N). The total body water (TBW), extracellular water (ECW), intracellular water (ICW), edema index (ECW/TBW) and body cell mass (BCM) were measured by bioelectrical impedance method. Results　In PLC patients, ICW and BCM insufficiency accounted for 37.5% (30/80), ECW abnormality accounted for 42.5% (34/80), and edema (ECW/TBW＞0.39) accounted for 85% (68/80). The proportion of edema patients was significantly higher in group B and group C than that in group A (P＜0.05). All patients in group C showed edema. The proportion of patients with abnormal ICW and BCM increased with the deterioration of liver function (P＜0.05). The content of intracellular water adjusted by ideal weight was significantly lower in group C than that of the control group (P＜0.05). There was no significant difference in ECW/BW and ECW/TBW between the case groups (P＞0.05), but which were higher in the case groups than that of the normal control group (P＜0.05). There were no significant differences in ICW, ECW, ECW/SW and BCM between the case groups and the normal control group (P＞0.05). Conclusion　The number of functional cells is gradually consumed in patients with primary liver cancer, and the abnormal distribution of intracellular and extracellular water in body is common, leading to the increase of edema index. It is suggested that rational nutrition therapy should be carried out as soon as possible.

Key words: carcinoma, hepatocellular, electric impedance, bioelectrical impedance analysis, intracellular water, extracellular water, body cell mass