Cachexia (from Greek "cacos" meaning "bad", and "hexia" meaning "condition, aka wasting syndrome, unexplained weight loss, unintentional weight loss) is the loss of body mass that can't be reversed nutritionally. It can be a Sx of the various underlying disease.

In someone who is not actively trying to lose weight:

• Even if the affected Pt eats more calories, lean body mass will be lost, indicating a primary pathology is in place
• Loss of weight
• Muscle atrophy
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Significant loss of appetite

• Physically weakens Pt's to a state of immobility, stemming from loss of appetite, asthenia (weakness), anemia, and sarcopenia (loss of skeletal muscle mass)

• Cancer
• Metabolic acidosis (decreased protein synthesis and increased protein catabolism)
• Certain infectious diseases, including:
  • AIDS
  • TB
• Chronic pancreatitis
• Some autoimmune disorders
• COPD
• MS
• CHF
• Amphetamine addictionFamilial amyloid polyneuropathy
• Gadolinium poisoning
• Mercury poisoning (acrodynia)
• Hormonal deficiency

• Risk factor for death, meaning the chance from dying of the underlying condition increases dramatically
• Response to Tx is usually poor