A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial of albumin in outpatients with hepatic encephalopathy: HEAL study.

Autor: Fagan A; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, Virginia, USA., Gavis EA; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, Virginia, USA., Gallagher ML; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, Virginia, USA., Mousel T; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, Virginia, USA., Davis B; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, Virginia, USA., Puri P; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, Virginia, USA., Sterling RK; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, Virginia, USA., Luketic VA; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, Virginia, USA., Lee H; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, Virginia, USA., Matherly SC; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, Virginia, USA., Sanyal AJ; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, Virginia, USA., Stravitz RT; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, Virginia, USA., Patel V; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, Virginia, USA., Siddiqui MS; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, Virginia, USA., Asgharpour A; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, Virginia, USA., Fuchs M; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, Virginia, USA., Thacker L; Department of Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University and Central Virginia Veterans Healthcare System, Richmond, Virginia, USA., Bajaj JS; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, Virginia, USA. Electronic address: jasmohan.bajaj@vcuhealth.org.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Journal of hepatology [J Hepatol] 2023 Feb; Vol. 78 (2), pp. 312-321. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Sep 22.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.09.009
Abstrakt: Background & Aims: Even after recovery from overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE), minimal HE (MHE), which impairs quality of life (QoL), can persist. A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial was performed to determine the impact of albumin vs. saline on MHE and QoL in individuals with prior HE already on standard of care.
Methods: Outpatients with cirrhosis and prior HE, MHE and hypoalbuminemia already on treatment for HE were included. Patients on regular IV albumin infusions were excluded. Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive either weekly infusions of 25% IV albumin 1.5 g/kg or saline over 5 weeks. MHE was defined using either psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES), Stroop or critical clicker frequency. MHE, QoL (based on sickness impact profile [SIP] total, physical, psychosocial domain) and serum markers (inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and ischemia-modified albumin) were compared between baseline, the final infusion visit (end-of-drug [EOD]) and 1-week post final infusion (end-of-study [EOS]).
Results: Forty-eight (24/group) participants were randomized and balanced (including by HE medication use) at baseline. Adverse events were similar, with MELD and ammonia remaining stable between/within groups. Albumin levels increased and ischemia-modified albumin decreased only in the albumin group at EOD and EOS vs. baseline. PHES and Stroop MHE reversal and improvement were greater in the albumin group at EOD and persisted at EOS. SIP total and psychosocial, but not physical, domain improved only in the albumin group at EOD and EOS vs. baseline. A significant reduction in IL-1β and endothelial dysfunction markers was also observed in the albumin group.
Conclusion: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of outpatients with cirrhosis, prior HE and current MHE, albumin infusions were associated with improved cognitive function and psychosocial QoL, likely due to amelioration of endothelial dysfunction.
Clinical Trials Registration: www.
Clinicaltrials: gov NCT03585257.
Impact and Implications: Even after recovery from overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE), minimal HE (MHE), which impairs quality of life, can persist. We found that intravenous albumin infusions were associated with improved cognitive function and psychosocial quality of life, likely owing to amelioration of endothelial dysfunction, compared to placebo in outpatients with prior HE and current MHE. In patients who continue to demonstrate cognitive dysfunction and impaired quality of life despite standard of care therapy for HE, albumin infusions could be considered if these results are validated.
(Copyright © 2022 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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