Summaries of Must-Read Clinical Literature, Guidelines, and FDA Actions
Hepatic Encephalopathy & Branched Chain Amino Acids
Cochrane Database; 2017 May 18; Gluud, et al
Administering branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) to patients with hepatic encephalopathy will improve signs and symptoms of the disorder but does not seem to have any impact on mortality, quality of life, or nutritional parameters, according to a recent Cochrane Library review. Among the findings of the analysis:
- The benefits of BCAAs were observed in clinical trials that compared them to placebo but there were no significant benefits when they were compared to lactulose or neomycin.
- Researchers reviewed 16 randomized clinical trials that included 827 patients, including those with alcohol-induced cirrhosis and viral hepatitis.
- BCAAs didn’t cause any increased risk of serious adverse effects.
- BCAAs did, however, cause nausea and diarrhea.
Citation:
Gluud L, Dam G, Les I, Marchesini G, Borre M, Aagaard N, Vilstrup H. Branched-chain amino acids for people with hepatic encephalopathy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2017, Issue 5. Art. No.: CD001939. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001939.pub4.