Acetyl-L-Carnitine In Severe Hepatic Encephalopathy

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2005-12-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

To assess the clinical efficacy of ALC in the treatment of severe hepatic encephalopathy (grade 3 of the West Haven grading scale), we performed a randomised, double blind placebo-controlled study administering ALC to cirrhotic patients, evaluating the effects on ammonia levels and performance in cognitive functions.

• Phase: N/A

Details

• Lead Sponsor: University of Catania
• Treatments: Acetylcarnitine

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients with severe hepatic encephalopathy (grade 3 of the West Haven grading scale) with hepatic cirrhosis

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with a history of recent alcohol abuse, patients using psychotropic drugs (e.g., antipsychotics, interferon, benzodiazepines, anti-epileptics, sedatives and antidepressants)

• Other exclusion criteria were the following: major complications of portal hypertension, such as gastrointestinal blood loss, hepatorenal syndrome or bacterial peritonitis; acute superimposed liver injury;patients with metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus, unbalanced heart failure and/or respiratory failure or end-stage renal disease; any additional precipitating factors such as high protein intake (additional high-protein meals), constipation; illiteracy.