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- Title
Acetyl-L-carnitine improves cognitive functions in severe hepatic encephalopathy: a randomized and controlled clinical trial.
- Authors
Malaguarnera, Michele; Vacante, Marco; Motta, Massimo; Giordano, Maria; Malaguarnera, Giulia; Bella, Rita; Nunnari, Giuseppe; Rampello, Liborio; Pennisi, Giovanni
- Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ALC treatment on cognitive functions in patients with severe hepatic encephalopathy. This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. 61 patients with severe hepatic encephalopathy were recruited to the study. The 2 groups received either 2 g ALC twice a day ( n = 30) or placebo ( n = 30) for 90 days. Clinical and laboratory assessment, psychometric tests and automated electroencephalogram (EEG) analysis were performed for all patients. At the end of the study period, between the 2 groups we observed a significant difference in Everyday Memory Questionnaire −23.9 vs 4.4 ( p < 0.001), Logical Memory (Paragraph recall) test 22.3 vs 0.7 ( p < 0.001), Trail Making Test A −7.5 vs −2.6 ( p < 0.001), Trail Making Test B −10.5 vs −3.1 ( p < 0.001), Controlled Oral Word Association Test 4.2 vs 0.5 ( p < 0.001), Hooper test 2.6 vs 0.1 ( p < 0.05), Judgement of line orientation 2.8 vs 0.3 ( p < 0.001), Digit Cancellation time −24.5 vs −2.4 ( p < 0.001), NH 30.5 vs 13.5 ( p < 0.001), prothrombin time 2 vs 2.4 ( p < 0.05), alanine transaminase −10.7 vs −13.6 ( p < 0.001). 88% of patients treated with ALC vs 72% of patients treated with placebo showed a significant improvement in EEG. The improvement of cognitive deficits, the reduction of ammonia, and the modification of EEG in patients treated with ALC suggest that ALC could represent a new tool in the treatment of severe hepatic encephalopathy.
- Subjects
CARNITINE; VITAMIN B complex; COGNITIVE ability; ABILITY; HEPATIC encephalopathy
- Publication
Metabolic Brain Disease, 2011, Vol 26, Issue 4, p281
- ISSN
0885-7490
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s11011-011-9260-z