Effects of L-carnitine in patients with hepatic encephalopathy

Table 1 Baseline data of patients

Parameter	Carnitine group, n = 75	Placebo group, n = 75
Male/female	50/25	45/30
Age (yr)	51.7 ± 9.6	53.2 ± 9.2
Cirrhosis etiology
Alcohol	5
Post-hepatitis B	20	22
Post-hepatitis C	38	38
Cryptogenetic	10	10
Child–Pugh class
A	30	31
B	34	34
C	11	10
Prothrombin time (%)	62.8 ± 6.9	63.1 ± 6.8
Serum albumin level (g/dL)	2.9 ± 0.7	2.8 ± 0.9
Serum bilirubin level (mg/dL)	3.1 ± 1.2	3.2 ± 1.4
Serum alanine	119 ± 74	116 ± 77
aminotransferase level (IU/L)
Blood urea nitrogen (mg/dL)	40 ± 9	39 ± 11
Serum creatinine level (mg/dL)	0.88 ± 0.21	0.82 ± 0.30
Natriemia (mEq/L)	136 ± 3.4	138 ± 4.7
Kaliemia (mEq/L)	4.1 ± 1.2	4.2 ± 0.9

Table 2 Comparison between evaluated parameters of the two groups (mean±SD)

	Carnitine group (A)				Placebo group (B)
Duration of treatment (days)	0	30	60	90	0	30	60	90
NH4 fasting	MHE	68.2±38.2	55.1±31.4	49.1±30.1	40.1±25.1	69.1±39.2	68.2±38.2	68.2±33.6	67.1±34.1
	HE1	82.1±29.1	69.2±28.2	58.2±28.7	41.4±28.1	80.1±30.1	78.7±36.2	77.2±33.4	76.2±31.8
	HE2	89.2±34.2	80.1±28.1	74.1±12.9	53.2±18.2	88.2±34.1	87.1±35.2	86.1±38.1	85.4±39.2
Trail making test-A	MHE	48.9±18.7	35.1±18.9	30.9±15.2	274±12.4	51.4±19.2	50.2±18.9	52.1±20.1	50.4±20.2
	HE1	62.4±21.2	50.8±18.9	40.8±16.5	33.6±16.1	60.9±19.9	59.9±19.8	58.4±20.1	53.6±19.8
	HE2	69.3±21.8	58.8±18.1	43.1±20.1	39.1±16.8	64.3±22.4	65.6±20.4	64.9±21.9	61.4±22.9
Trail making test-B	MHE	66.1±12.1	41.1±13.2	40.1±10.2	37.2±12.1	65.2±13.1	61.1±14.1	60.1±13.2	59±14.1
	HE1	74.2±10.1	65±11.1	55.1±12.1	50.4±10.1	75.8±11.9	74.2±12.1	70.11±12.8	71.4±13.2
	HE2	96.9±12.4	87.4±11.2	75.11±11.8	61.9±13.2	91.4±12.1	90.6±10.8	91.5±10.6	93.4±11.8
Symbol digit modalities test	MHE	36±1.2	40±1.8	44±1.5	44±1.7	35±1.9	36±2.1	36.2±11.8	36.4±22.2
	HE1	30±1.9	35.1±2.1	38±2.4	44±1.9	31.2±1.8	32.4±1.9	33.2±1.8	34.1±1.9
	HE2	25.1±1.4	28.2±1.9	32.1±12.4	38±2.4	26.1±2.1	27.2±2.4	28.1±1.9	27.9±1.8
Block design test	MHE	31.1±1.2	35.2±1.9	39±2.1	44±1.1	30.1±2.8	32±2.6	32.4±2.9	32.7±1.8
	HE1	27±1.8	30±1.9	33.1±2.1	39.1±1.1	26±2.9	28±1.9	28.4±2.1	27.1±2.2
	HE2	22±1.9	26.1±1.8	30.1±1.1	35±1.8	22.6±21	23.2±1.4	24.2±1.9	24.8±2.1