Branched chain amino acids supplemented with L-acetylcarnitine versus BCAA treatment in hepatic coma: a randomized and controlled double blind study

Objective Our earlier study has demonstrated that the administration of L.-acetylcarnitine (LAC) improves neurological symptoms and serum parameters in hepatic coma. The aim of this work has been to evaluate the efficacy of the LAC and branched chain amino acids (BCAA) versus BCAA, administered in intravenous infusion, in patients with cirrhotic hepatic coma. Methods Forty-eight highly selected patients were enrolled in the study and, after randomization, received blindly LAC + BCAA (n=24) versus BCAA (n=24). The two groups were similar in age, sex, pathogenesis of cirrhosis, and severity of liver disease. The comparison between values before and after LAC planned treatment showed statistical significant differences in neurological findings, evaluated by the Glasgow Scale, ammonia serum levels, blood urea nitrogen, and EEG. Results After 60 min of the study period, the LAC + BCAA treated patients compared with BCCA treated showed a significant decrease of ammonia serum levels: 41.20 versus 10.40 mu mol P<0.05. After 1 day of the study period, the LAC + BCAA treated patients compared with BCCA treated patients showed a significant increase of Glasgow's score: 3.60 versus 1.50 score P<0.05; a significant decrease of ammonia serum levels: 63.30 versus 27.00 mu mol P<0.01; a significant improvement of EEG cps/s: 2.70 versus 0.6 P<0.001. No side-effects were observed in our study series. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that the administration of BCAA supplemented with LAC might improve neurological symptoms and serum ammonium levels in selected cirrhotic patients with hepatic coma. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 21:762-770 (C) 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.