Summary
In a group of liver cirrhosis (LC) patients subjected to a rectal ammonium overload test, the effect of L-carnitine on ammoniemia and on the type A numerical connection and star clock psychomotor tests has been evaluated.
On comparing 40 LC patients given L-carnitine with 40 control cirrhotics given a placebo, no significant differences were observed in ammonium levels after performing the overload test in both groups.
However, on studying the patients with the greatest liver involvement, those given L-carnitine showed smaller elevations in ammoniemia and better responses to the psychometric tests than those receiving the placebo.
The results obtained emphasize the need to continue testing the effect of L-carnitine using either similar tests or carrying out long-term evaluations to determine its protective effect in the appearance of hepatic encephalopathy, perhaps even including its evaluation in the treatment of established encephalopathy.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Zeegen, R. Drinkwater, J.E. Dawwson, A.M. Method for measuring cerebral disfunction in patients with liver disease. Br. Med. J. 1970, 2: 633–636.
Sherlock, S. Hepatic Encephalopathy in Csomos, G. Thaler, H. Ed. Clinical Hepatology. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1983 pp: 291–298.
Walker, C.O. Schenker, S. Pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy with special reference to the role of ammonia. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 1970, 23: 619–631.
McCandless, S. Schenker, S. Effect of acute ammonia intoxication on energy stores in the cerebral reticular activating system. Exp. Brain. Res. 1981, 44: 325.
O’Connor, J.E. Costell, M. Grisolia, S Protective effect of L-Carnitine on hyperammonemia. FEBS Lett, 1984, 30: 331–334.
O’Connor, J.E. Prevention of ammonia toxicity by L-Carnitine: metabolic changes in brain. Neurochem. Res. 1984, 9: 563–570.
Gips, C.H. Curve patterns after oral loading with ammonium acetate. Clin. Chim. Acta, 1973, 46: 415–418.
Orrego, H. Israel, Y. Blake, J.E. Medline, A.Assessment of prognostic factors in alcoholic liver disease: toward a global quantitative expression of severity. Hepatology, 1983, 3: 896–905.
Da Fonseca-Wollheim, F. Bedeutung von Wasserstoffionen-koncentration und ADP-zusats bei der ammoniakbestimmung mit glutamatdehydrogenase. Z. Klin. Chem. Klin. Biochem. 1973, 11: 421–425.
Conn, H.O. Trailmaking and number connection tests in the assessment of mental state in portal systemic encephalopathy. Am. J. Dig. Dis. 1977, 22: 541–550.
Reitan, R.M. Validity of the trail making test as an indicator of organic brain damage. Percept. Motor Skills, 1958, 8: 271–276.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1990 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
del Olmo, J.A. et al. (1990). Effect of L-Carnitine Upon Ammonia Tolerance Test in Cirrhotic Patients. In: Grisolía, S., Felipo, V., Miñana, MD. (eds) Cirrhosis, Hepatic Encephalopathy, and Ammonium Toxicity. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 272. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5826-8_13
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5826-8_13
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-5828-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-5826-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive