ABSTRACT
Hepatic encephalopathy [HE] is the syndrome of disordered consciousness and altered neuromuscular activity that is seen in patients with acute or chronic hepatocellular failure or porto systemic shunting
Objective: To determine the efficacy of intravenous L-ornithine L-aspartate [LOLA] in combination with current treatment in patients with hepatic encephalopathy
Study Design: Quasi experimental
Setting: Study was conducted in medical unit I, Services Hospital, Lahore
Duration of Study: The study was carried out over a period of one and a half years
Subjects: Patients of chronic liver disease presenting with hepatic encephalopathy fulfilling inclusion criteria were enrolled in study
Methods: Sixty patients of hepatic encephalopathy were taken. They were divided into two groups of thirty each. Thirty patients labeled as group A were given the conventional treatment of hepatic encephalopathy; second group of thirty patients was labeled as group B and was given intravenous LOLA in addition to conventional treatment
Results: Group B patients showed statistically significant improvement in encephalopathy and reduction in serum ammonia levels after seventy two hours of treatment. However, there was statistically insignificant reduction in duration of hospital stay
Conclusion: Addition of LOLA in conventional treatment improves recovery from hepatic encephalopathy; but it needs further studies to document role of L-ornithine L-aspartate as regular part of treatment of hepatic encephalopathy