ABSTRACT
Cachexia describes the weakness, weight loss and wasting that occur in chronic physical and mental diseases. The condition is distinguished from malnutrition (p. 229) and is particularly evident in patients with cancer.The wasting of cachexia is attributable to diminished food intake combined with disturbed gastro-intestinal function; disuse atrophy; and an increased catabolism of tissues resulting from raised body temperature. The intermediary metabolism of tissues in neoplastic tissue may differ from normal but it has not been possible to isolate any single substance responsible for this difference.
