Influence of L-ornithine-L-aspartate on MELD score of patients with chronic liver failure.

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the influence of L-ornithine-L-aspartate (LOLA) on model for end stage liver disease(MELD) score and liver function of patients with chronic liver failure (CLF). Methods Sixty patients consecutively admitted to our hospital from May, 2002 and November, 2008 were enrolled into the study and randomly divided into low dose group (LD group, LOLA:10 g/d) and high dose group (HD group, LOLA :20 g/d)After treatment of LOLA, the clinical data ( serum NH3 , MELD score and liver function ) were compared between the two groups. Results Compared to serum NH3 level before treatment, serum NH3 decreased ( 62.59 + 27.87 )μmoL/L in the HD group and (49.36 + 27.34 ) μmol/L in the LD group, and both decreasements were statistical significant (Ps ＜ 0. 05 ). Compared to MELD before treatment, MELD score decreased ( 8.38 ± 2. 24 ) and ( 14.57 + 7.68), respectively ( Ps ＜ 0.05 ). Compared to LD group, all indices of liver function in the HD group improved more compared to those of the LD group ( Ps ＜ 0.05 ). Conclusions LOLA could significantly decrease serum NH3 and MELD score and improve liver function in CLF patients. Key words: L-ornithine-L-aspartate; Chronic liver failure; Model for end-stage liver disease; Serum ammonia