Effect of segmental transcatheter arterial chemoembolization on branched chain amino acids and tyrosine ratio in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
The effect of segmental transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TAE) on serum amino acid levels and liver function were studied in 23 patients with HCC associated with hepatitis virus C (22 patients) or alcoholism (1 patient), with compensated liver cirrhosis (Child A 18 patients, Child B 5 patients). Serum levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), tyrosine, branched-chain amino acids to tyrosine ratio (BTR), ammonia, total bilirubin and albumin, and prothrombin times were measured before and after TAE (24 h, 7 and 14 days). The BTR was increased significantly 24 h after TAE (p<0.001) and gradually decreased to pre-TAE levels. Serum tyrosine levels decreased at 24 h after TAE (p<0.005) and later increased. Serum BCAA levels increased slightly at 7days after TAE and were decreased at 14 days after TAE. This results indicated that the increased BTR was due primarily to the decreased tyrosine level at 24 h after TAE. Serum ammonia levels gradually decreased after TAE and the prothrombin time and serum levels of total bilirubin and albumin were not significantly changed. In this study, segmental TAE had little influence on liver function, and the BTR unexpectedly increased at 24 h after TAE. These results suggest that segmental TAE has minimal side effects and may have a beneficial effect on amino acid metabolism.
Inoue
H
H
First Department of Internal Medicine, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan.
Ito
T
T
Siraki
K
K
Sugimoto
K
K
Sakai
T
T
Oomori
S
S
Takase
K
K
Nakano
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / Q000097:blood*; D000641:Ammonia / Q000097:blood; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D004655:Emulsions; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007269:Injections, Intra-Arterial; D007459:Iodized Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011517:Prothrombin Time; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000097:blood*
D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain; D004655:Emulsions; D015251:Epirubicin; D014443:Tyrosine; D000641:Ammonia; D007459:Iodized Oil; D004317:Doxorubicin