Oral branched-chain amino acids administration improves impaired liver dysfunction after radiofrequency ablation therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.
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.
Ishikawa
Toru
T
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saiseikai Niigata Second Hospital, Niigata, Japan. toruishi@ngt.saiseikai.or.jp
Michitaka
Imai
I
Kamimura
Hiroteru
H
Higuchi
Kazuo
K
Kubota
Tomoyuki
T
Seki
Kei-ichi
K
Ohta
Hironobu
H
Yoshida
Toshiaki
T
Kamimura
Tomoteru
T
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
D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain; D012709:Serum Albumin