title: Effect of L-carnitine upon ammonia tolerance test in cirrhotic patients.
abstract: In a group of liver cirrhosis (LC) patients subjected to a rectal ammonium overload test, the effect of L-carnitine on ammoniemia and on the type A numerical connection and star clock psychomotor tests has been evaluated. On comparing 40 LC patients given L-carnitine with 40 control cirrhotics given a placebo, no significant differences were observed in ammonium levels after performing the overload test in both groups. However, on studying the patients with the greatest liver involvement, those given L-carnitine showed smaller elevations in ammoniemia and better responses to the psychometric tests than those receiving the placebo. The results obtained emphasize the need to continue testing the effect of L-carnitine using either similar tests or carrying out long-term evaluations to determine its protective effect in the appearance of hepatic encephalopathy, perhaps even including its evaluation in the treatment of established encephalopathy.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: del Olmo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rodrigo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aparisi
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wassel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bixquert
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000641:Ammonia / Q000097:blood; D002331:Carnitine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000150:complications; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D000641:Ammonia; D002331:Carnitine