Oral Acetyl-L-Carnitine Therapy Reduces Fatigue In Hepatic Encephalopathy

NCT ID: NCT01223742

Last Updated: 2010-10-19

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2002-06-30

Study Completion Date

2006-12-31

Brief Summary

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of exogenous ALC on the both physical and mental fatigue in mild and moderate encephalopatic patients.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Hepatic Encephalopathy

Study Groups

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ACETYL-L-CARNITINE

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

ACETYL-L-CARNITINE

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

2 g acetylcarnitine taken orally twice a day.

placebo

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

placebo

Intervention Type DRUG

placebo twice per day

Interventions

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ACETYL-L-CARNITINE

2 g acetylcarnitine taken orally twice a day.

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

placebo

placebo twice per day

Intervention Type DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* 1\) Chronic hepatitis with spontaneous manifest HE (mental state grade 1 or 2 according to the West Haven criteria) and an NCT-A performance time \>30 seconds;
* 2\) Hyperammonemia (venous ammonia concentration \>50 mmol/L);
* 3\) Cooperative, hospitalised, adult patients with liver cirrhosis diagnosed by clinical, histological and ultrasonographic findings (reduced dimensions of the liver as well as splenomegaly) and oesophageal varices at stage II and III observed by endoscopy.

Exclusion Criteria

* 1\) Major complications of portal hypertension, such as gastrointestinal blood loss, hepatorenal syndrome or bacterial peritonitis;
* 2\) Acute superimposed liver injury;
* 3\) Patient with other neurological disease and metabolic disorders, diabetes mellitus, unbalanced heart failure and/or respiratory failure or end-stage renal disease;
* 4\) Alcoholic -toxic cirrhosis because toxic brain damage may interfere with the assessment of HE;
* 5\) Severe HE;
* 6\) Administration of anti-HE medications such as neomycin, branched-chain amino acids;
* 7\) Any additional precipitating factors such as high protein intake (additional high-protein meals), constipation or intake of psycho stimulants, sedatives, antidepressants, benzodiazepines, or benzodiazepines-antagonists (flumazenil), beta-adrenergic blockers, neuromuscular blocking agents, certain antibiotics;
* 8\) Patients with fever, sepsis or shock were also excluded to avoid variations caused by body temperature;
* 9\) Illiteracy.
Minimum Eligible Age

40 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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University of Catania

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Locations

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Cannizzaro Hospital

Catania, , Italy

Site Status

Countries

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Italy

References

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Malaguarnera M, Vacante M, Giordano M, Pennisi G, Bella R, Rampello L, Malaguarnera M, Li Volti G, Galvano F. Oral acetyl-L-carnitine therapy reduces fatigue in overt hepatic encephalopathy: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Apr;93(4):799-808. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.110.007393. Epub 2011 Feb 10.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 21310833 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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8-12-00 B

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id