title: Effects of Oral L-Carnitine on Liver Functions after Transarterial Chemoembolization in Intermediate-Stage HCC Patients.
abstract: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is usually followed by hepatic dysfunction. We evaluated the effects of L-carnitine on post-TACE impaired liver functions. Methods. 53 cirrhotic hepatocellular carcinoma patients at Osaka Medical College were enrolled in this study and assigned into either L-carnitine group receiving 600 mg oral L-carnitine daily or control group. Liver functions were evaluated at pre-TACE and 1, 4, and 12 weeks after TACE. Results. The L-carnitine group maintained Child-Pugh (CP) score at 1 week after TACE and exhibited significant improvement at 4 weeks after TACE (P < 0.01). Conversely, the control group reported a significant CP score deterioration at 1 week (P < 0.05) and 12 weeks after TACE (P < 0.05). L-carnitine suppressed serum albumin deterioration at 1 week after TACE. There were significant differences between L-carnitine and control groups regarding mean serum albumin changes from baseline to 1 week (P < 0.05) and 4 weeks after TACE (P < 0.05). L-carnitine caused prothrombin time improvement from baseline to 1, 4 (P < 0.05), and 12 weeks after TACE. Total bilirubin mean changes from baseline to 1 week after TACE exhibited significant differences between L-carnitine and control groups (P < 0.05). The hepatoprotective effects of L-carnitine were enhanced by branched chain amino acids combination. Conclusion. L-carnitine maintained and improved liver functions after TACE.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka Medical College, 2-7 Daigakumachi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan ; Department of Internal Medicine, Sohag Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag 82524, Egypt.
authors.forename: Abeer
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka Medical College, 2-7 Daigakumachi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsuda
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka Medical College, 2-7 Daigakumachi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asai
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka Medical College, 2-7 Daigakumachi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan.
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yokohama
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka Medical College, 2-7 Daigakumachi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka Medical College, 2-7 Daigakumachi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sujishi
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka Medical College, 2-7 Daigakumachi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohama
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka Medical College, 2-7 Daigakumachi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan.
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsuchimoto
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka Medical College, 2-7 Daigakumachi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukunishi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Sohag Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag 82524, Egypt.
authors.forename: Usama M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Abdelaal
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Sohag Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag 82524, Egypt.
authors.forename: Usama A
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Arafa
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Sohag Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag 82524, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ali T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Sohag Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag 82524, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ali M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kassem
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka Medical College, 2-7 Daigakumachi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhide
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Higuchi
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / Q000494:pharmacology; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002331:Carnitine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain; D012709:Serum Albumin; D001663:Bilirubin; D002331:Carnitine