간성혼수 증상을 보이는 간질환 환자들에 있어서 분지사슬 아미노산의 투여 효과

Abstract

Background : The therapeutic efficacy of BCAA in liver disease patients with hepatic encephalopathy is still controversial. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of BCAA in patients with hepatic encephalopathy on hospitalized patients in Korea. Method : We retrospectively reviewed a total of 72 cases based on electronic medical records in a tertiary hospital from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2019. Those patients were classified into three groups; lactulose only group, lactulose with intravenous BCAA administration group, and lactulose with oral rifaximin administration group. Then we evaluated the clinical parameters such as elapsed time from the administration of these medications to the recovery of consciousness, changes of albumin levels as well as child-pugh score before and after the treatment, and hospitalization periods. Results : Among the 72 cases, 41 cases were assigned to the lactulose only group, 6 cases to the lactulose with intravenous BCAA administration group, and 25 cases to the lactulose with oral rifaximin administration group. Patients of the lactulose with intravenous BCAA group recovered their consciousness significantly faster than those of the lactulose only group (p<0.01). However, there was no statistically significant difference in albumin levels, Child-Pugh score, and hospitalization periods among those groups. Conclusion : We suggest that the co-administration of lactulose and intravenous BCAA is beneficial in liver disease patients with hepatic encephalopathy.