Acetyl-L-Carnitine In Severe Hepatic Encephalopathy

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Hepatic Encephalopathy (Grade 3 of the West Haven Grading Scale) Brain Diseases Brain Diseases, Metabolic Central Nervous System Diseases Digestive System Diseases Hepatic Encephalopathy Hepatic Insufficiency Liver Diseases Liver Failure Metabolic Diseases Nervous System Diseases Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases

Age range

40 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Cannizzaro Hospital

Catania, 95126, Italy

Who can participate

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

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.

Treatment and study plan