RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Muscle cramps in cirrhotic patients are not serious symptoms but have frequently bad effect on their quality of life. We have evaluated the effectiveness of treatment with eperisone hydrochloride, an antispastic agent, on muscle cramps in cirrhotic patients. METHODS: Sixty five cirrhotic patients (cramps 35, no cramps 30) were included in our study. Thirty five patients with muscle cramps were questioned about the frequency and localization of muscle cramps. All patients were evaluated a physical findings and blood chemistry at the beginning of the study and after one month. Eperisone hydrochloride 50 mg per day were given orally to the patients with muscle cramps. RESULTS: There were significant differences for the number of diuretics use (p=0.019), hemoglobin (p=0.005), platelet (p=0.007), total bilirubin (p=0.003), albumin (p=0.000), total calcium (p=0.0001) and Na+ (p=0.001) between with and without muscle cramps. Muscle cramps were found to occur in calf muscles (60%) and hands (54%), to occur several times a week (76%), mainly during sleep (73%) and to last for several minutes (53%). After a month, muscle cramps completely disappeared in 7 patients (20%), decreased in frequency in 18 patients (51%) and were unaltered in 10 patients (29%). Side effects were observed in 7 patients (epigastric discomfort in five, fatigue in two) but any patients were not stopped. CONCLUSIONS: Eperisone hydrochloride was significantly effective in treatment for the muscle cramps of the patients with liver cirrhosis. In addition, this agents was well tolerated without any serious adverse effects in the majority of the patients.