title: Oral branched-chain amino acids administration improves impaired liver dysfunction after radiofrequency ablation therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a new modality for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the effects of RFA on hepatic reserve have not yet been thoroughly studied. In the present study, it was evaluated the effect of branched chain amino acid (BCAA) administration after RFA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-seven patients with initial, single HCC lesions measuring not more than 30mm in whom RFA was selected in first-line therapy were enrolled. Twenty-eight patients with the Child-Pugh B/C grade who received RFA therapy were divided into two groups: 11 who received a BCAA-enriched nutrient mixture, and 17 who did not. Changes in serum albumin were evaluated before RFA and 1, 6 and 12 months after RFA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariate analysis showed that the Child-Pugh grading is the most important factor related to intrahepatic distant recurrence following by RFA. Serum albumin levels decreased 1 month after RFA. Although a tendency toward recovery was noted 6 months after RFA, a decreasing tendency was noted again one year after RFA compared to the pre-RFA baseline. However, a tendency toward improvement was noted in Child-Pugh B grade patients who received BCAA mixture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BCAA mixture made it possible to maintain serum albumin levels and hepatic reserve.
authors: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saiseikai Niigata Second Hospital, Niigata, Japan. toruishi@ngt.saiseikai.or.jp
authors: Toru
authors: T
authors: Ishikawa
authors: Imai
authors: I
authors: Michitaka
authors: Hiroteru
authors: H
authors: Kamimura
authors: Kazuo
authors: K
authors: Higuchi
authors: Tomoyuki
authors: T
authors: Kubota
authors: Kei-ichi
authors: K
authors: Seki
authors: Hironobu
authors: H
authors: Ohta
authors: Toshiaki
authors: T
authors: Yoshida
authors: Tomoteru
authors: T
authors: Kamimura
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain; D012709:Serum Albumin