Effects of an infusion of branched‐chain amino acids on neurophysiological and psychometric testings in cirrhotic patients with mild hepatic encephalopathy

Abstract

Psychotropic action of a branched-chain-enriched amino acid solution (Aminoleban) was quantitatively and visually examined in six cirrhotic patients with mild hepatic encephalopathy (grades I and II) using electrophysiological and psychometric methods. Neurophysiological effects of the amino acid solution were observed by comparing topographic spectrum analyses of electroencephalography (EEG) before and immediately after an intravenous 3 h infusion of the solution. The delta wave in the frontal region diminished from 61 +/- 13 to 12 +/- 4% (P < 0.01) and the alpha wave in the occipital region increased from 11 +/- 3 to 51 +/- 11% (P < 0.01). Latencies of the P3 wave in visual evoked potentials, which were topographically recorded in the occipital region, shortened from 220 +/- 32 to 148 +/- 19 ms (P < 0.01). Latencies of the P300 wave in event-related potentials, which were topographically recorded in the centro-temporal region, shortened from 493 +/- 81 to 360 +/- 93 ms (P < 0.05). Topographic reaction pattern of P300 was irregular toward the occipital or parietal region in cirrhotic patients. The EEG frequency power spectrum, illustrated by the colour density spectral array of computer-aided polysomnography analysis, clearly showed a gradual increase of the alpha wave spectrum and a gradual decrease of the delta wave spectrum after initiation of the infusion. These immediate neurophysiological changes were confirmed by improvement of quantitative psychometric tests including number connection test, reaction time to sound, and digit symbol and block design tests of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Branched-chain amino acid supplements reduced ascites and increased the quality of life in a patient with liver cirrhosis: A case report

“…Bcaa-rich supplements are commonly used for the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy in patients with liver cirrhosis (3)(4)(5). in the present case, the administration of Bcaa-rich supplements not only reduced hypoalbuminemia, but also reduced ascites.…”

“…The administration of branched-chain amino acid (Bcaa)-rich supplements reduces hepatic encephalopathy (3)(4)(5). recently, branched-chain amino acid (Bcaa) supplementation was shown to improve nutritional status (6).…”

EFFECTS OF A SINGLE, SHORT INTRAVENOUS DOSE OF ACETYL‐l‐CARNITINE ON PATTERN‐REVERSAL VISUAL‐EVOKED POTENTIALS IN CIRRHOTIC PATIENTS WITH HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY

“…Evoked potentials and, in particular, VEP have been used successfully for the investigation of patients with HE [24][25][26] and for the evaluation of the effects of various drugs on brain function in this condition. [27][28][29][30][31] In the present study, we measured the latency of the P100 component of the VEP that originates in the calcarine fissure in response to pattern-reversal visual stimuli. 32 In both HE patients and controls, the P100 latencies measured 30 min after 100 mL saline infusion exhibited no more than 2 msec difference from those registered at baseline, indicating that the measures were stable and that venipuncture and a rapid, small plasma volume expansion cannot modify VEP.…”

A review of physiological and metabolic effects of essential amino acids

“…Clinical trials have explored the psychotropic effects of the BCAA and their antagonistic action in encephalopathy (Rubin and Farber, 1988). Neurophysiological improvements have been confirmed in quantitative psychometric tests (Higuchi et al, 1994;Plauth et al, 1993).…”