title: L-ornithine-L-aspartate infusion efficacy in hepatic encephalopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the efficacy of L-ornithine-L-aspartate in treatment of hepatic encephalopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, from February to August 2005.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cirrhotic patients with hyperammonemia and overt hepatic encephalopathy were enrolled. Eighty patients were randomized to two treatment groups, L-ornithine-L-aspartate (20 g/d) or placebo, both dissolved in 250 mL of 5% dextrose water and infused intravenously for four hours a day for five consecutive days with 0.5 g/kg dietary protein intake at the end of daily treatment period. Outcome variables were postprandial blood ammonia and mental state grade. Adverse reactions and mortality were also determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both treatment groups were comparable regarding age, gender, etiology of cirrhosis, Child-Pugh class, mental state grade and blood ammonia at baseline. Although, improvement occurred in both groups, there was a greater improvement in L-ornithine-L-aspartate group with regard to both variables. Four patients in the placebo group and 2 in L-ornithine-L-aspartate group died.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  L-ornithine-L-aspartate infusions were found to be effective in cirrhotic patients with hepatic encephalopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Sheikh Zayed Medical College/Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan. uhirfan@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Irfan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Anwaar A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Altaf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.forename: Akif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dilshad
authors.forename: Arshad Kamal
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Butt
authors.forename: Farzana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shafqat
authors.forename: Kashif
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: Shahid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarwar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000641:Ammonia / Q000097:blood*; D003071:Cognition; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D022124:Hyperammonemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019518:Postprandial Period / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004151:Dipeptides; D000641:Ammonia; C002939:ornithylaspartate