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Article Publish Status: FREE
Abstract Title:

Impaired brain function improved by L-carnitine in patients with cirrhosis: evaluation using near-infrared spectroscopy.

Abstract Source:

Sci Rep. 2020 Aug 11 ;10(1):13566. Epub 2020 Aug 11. PMID: 32782294

Abstract Author(s):

Hiroyuki Nakanishi, Yuka Hayakawa, Youhei Kubota, Masayuki Kurosaki, Leona Osawa, Kento Inada, Sakura Kirino, Koji Yamashita, Shuhei Sekiguchi, Mao Okada, Wang Wan, Mayu Higuchi, Kenta Takaura, Chiaki Maeyashiki, Shun Kaneko, Nobuharu Tamaki, Yutaka Yasui, Takamasa Noda, Kaoru Nakanishi, Kaoru Tsuchiya, Jun Itakura, Yuka Takahashi, Namiki Izumi

Article Affiliation:

Hiroyuki Nakanishi

Abstract:

To evaluate the effects of L-carnitine on impaired brain function in patients with liver cirrhosis. We conducted a retrospective cohort study that included sequential 80 liver cirrhosis patients with impaired brain function evaluated using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Among them, L-carnitine was administered to 48 patients. The NIRS data and blood ammonia level at baseline and after 8 weeks of treatment were compared between patients administered with L-carnitine (L-carnitine group) and those who were not (control group). The NIRS data at baseline were similar between the L-carnitine and control groups (0.04 ± 0.04 vs. 0.04 ± 0.05 mMmm, p = n.s), whereas those inthe L-carnitine group (n = 48) were significantly better than that of the control group at 8 weeks of treatment (n = 32) (0.103 ± 0.081 vs. 0.040 ± 0.048 mMmm, p < 0.001). In the L-carnitine group, 35.4% (17/48) of patients had hyperammonemia. The NIRS data of the L-carnitine group at 8 weeks of treatment were significantly improved than that of the control group, irrespective of baseline ammonia levels (0.11 ± 0.09 vs. 0.04 ± 0.05 mMmm, p = 0.005, and 0.10 ± 0.06 vs. 0.02 ± 0.03 mMmm, p = 0.003, for normal baseline ammonia and elevated ammonia levels, respectively). In the multivariate analysis, L-carnitine administration (odds ratio [OR] 3.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23-9.99, p = 0.019) and baseline NIRS dataof ≤ 0.07 mMmm (OR 5.21, 95% CI 1.69-16.0, p = 0.0041) were found as independent significant factors. L-carnitine improves impaired brain function in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Study Type : Human Study

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