Effects of Oral L-Carnitine on Liver Functions after Transarterial Chemoembolization in Intermediate-Stage HCC Patients

Abstract EN

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is usually followed by hepatic dysfunction.

We evaluated the effects of L-carnitine on post-TACE impaired liver functions.

Methods.

53 cirrhotic hepatocellular carcinoma patients at Osaka Medical College were enrolled in this study and assigned into either L-carnitine group receiving 600 mg oral L-carnitine daily or control group.

Liver functions were evaluated at pre-TACE and 1, 4, and 12 weeks after TACE.

Results.

The L-carnitine group maintained Child-Pugh (CP) score at 1 week after TACE and exhibited significant improvement at 4 weeks after TACE ( P < 0.01 ).

Conversely, the control group reported a significant CP score deterioration at 1 week ( P < 0.05 ) and 12 weeks after TACE ( P < 0.05 ).

L-carnitine suppressed serum albumin deterioration at 1 week after TACE.

There were significant differences between L-carnitine and control groups regarding mean serum albumin changes from baseline to 1 week ( P < 0.05 ) and 4 weeks after TACE ( P < 0.05 ).

L-carnitine caused prothrombin time improvement from baseline to 1, 4 ( P < 0.05 ), and 12 weeks after TACE.

Total bilirubin mean changes from baseline to 1 week after TACE exhibited significant differences between L-carnitine and control groups ( P < 0.05 ).

The hepatoprotective effects of L-carnitine were enhanced by branched chain amino acids combination.

Conclusion.

L-carnitine maintained and improved liver functions after TACE.