간장 ( 肝臟 ) 및 담도 ( 膽道 ) : 간성뇌증에 대한 경구용 Branched - Chain Amino Acid ( AminolebanR EN ) 의 임상 효과

The effects of oral branched-chain amino acids (Aminoleban EN) were investigated in 44 patients (male: 33, famale: 11, Mean age: 50.6 +- 8.4 years old) with decompensated liver cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy or history thereof in a multicenter collabo-ative clinical study. The following results were obtained. 1) Significant improvements were observed in indicators of neuropsychiatric symptoms such as asterixis, ability to make caIculations, number connection test times, encephalopathic grade and performance status among patients. 2) Plasma levels of branched-chain amino acids elevated significantly in the second week of treatment, and those of aromatic amino acids were in the decreasing trend after treatment, Fischers ratio were significanthy improved. 3) Serum levels of albumin in the patients with hypoalbuminemia (less than 3.0 gm%) were significantly elevated. 4) Adverse reactions reported in 3 cases (6.8%) out of 44 cases were abdominal pain, vomiting and abdominal distension with massive ascites. These results suggested that the supplementation of the diet with oral branched-chain amino acids may be beneficial effects in the patients with hepatic encephalopathy through the improvement of encephalopathy and nutritional status.