title: L-Ornithine-l-aspartate in the management of hepatic encephalopathy: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hepatic encephalopathy continues to be a major clinical problem and the current decade has not witnessed major therapeutic breakthroughs in this area. L-ornithine-l-aspartate (LOLA) is not frequently used as there are still some reservations about its benefits. The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of LOLA in the management of hepatic encephalopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used the method recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration to perform a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of LOLA therapy for hepatic encephalopathy including three randomized controlled trials.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three randomized trials randomizing 212 patients were included. LOLA versus placebo had a significant effect on improvement of hepatic encephalopathy (relative risk 1.89; 95% CI 1.32 to 2.71; P = 0.0005). This comparison showed no statistical heterogeneity (P = 0.85 and chi(2) = 0.09). Subgroup analysis showed that LOLA could be effective versus placebo in trials with grade I or II overt hepatic encephalopathy patients (relative risk 1.87; 95% CI 1.30 to 2.68; P = 0.0007) and had no significant effect in trials with subclinical hepatic encephalopathy patients (relative risk 1.69; 95% CI 0.72 to 3.94; P = 0.23). Adverse effects were observed in only three patients treated with LOLA in one report.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LOLA benefited patients with overt hepatic encephalopathy (I or II), whereas these data do not support the use of LOLA for patients with subclinical hepatic encephalopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Xue-Hua
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Ming-Hua
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Yong-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D004151:Dipeptides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004151:Dipeptides; C002939:ornithylaspartate