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Treatment of chronic portal-systemic encephalopathy with lactose in lactase-deficient patients

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Abstract

A controlled cross-over clinical comparison of lactose (50 g twice a day) versus neomycin (3 g/day) plus milk of magnesia, was carried out in ten cirrhotic patients with chronic portal-systemic encephalopathy and documented lactase deficiency. Serial semiquantitative assessments were done including: mental state, asterixis, number connection test, electroencephalogram, and blood ammonia levels. No patient developed deep coma while ingesting either lactose or neomycin plus milk of magnesia. However, a significant improvement of mental state, asterixis, number connection tests, and electroencephalograms was evident during lactose therapy. Apart from mild diarrhea and bloating, no severe side effects were noticeable during lactose treatment. Based on these results, we propose lactose as a valuable alternate treatment of portal-systemic encephalopathy in lactase-deficient populations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Liver Unit, Division of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Department of Genetics and Department of Neurology, Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición, Viaducto Tlalpan y San Fernando, México 22, D.F.

    Misael Uribe MD, Miguel A. Márquez MD, Guillermo García-Ramos MD, Valdemar Escobedo MD, Héctor Murillo MD, Luis Guevara MD & Rubén Lisker MD

Authors
  1. Misael Uribe MD
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  2. Miguel A. Márquez MD
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  3. Guillermo García-Ramos MD
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  4. Valdemar Escobedo MD
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  5. Héctor Murillo MD
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  6. Luis Guevara MD
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  7. Rubén Lisker MD
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With technical assistance of Arabella Briones, BS, and Sofía Gil, BS.

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Uribe, M., Márquez, M.A., García-Ramos, G. et al. Treatment of chronic portal-systemic encephalopathy with lactose in lactase-deficient patients. Digest Dis Sci 25, 924–928 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01308043

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01308043

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