| Popis: |
Background: Some patients with liver cirrhosis have sleep-wake disturbance and reduced quality of life (QOL). However, the effects of L-carnitine on QOL and sleep-wake disturbance have not been extensively studied. Thus, we aimed to examine the effects of L-carnitine on the sleep quality and QOL in cirrhotic patients.Methods: We investigated 19 cirrhotic patients (age: 65.0±10.2 years, male:female=10:9, Child-Pugh score: 6.5±1.8) treated with 1500-mg L-carnitine at Nagasaki University Hospital and its associated hospitals. We used questionnaires to evaluate the patients’ sleep-wake disturbance and QOL at the time of entry and 8 weeks. Results: Cirrhosis-related symptom scores (CSSs), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and General Health (GH) of QOL score improved with L-carnitine treatment (CSS: from 11.5±9.4 to 9.4±3.7, p=0.015; PSQI: from 9.6±5.8 to 7.4±3.3, p=0.035; GH: from 33.5±8.2 to 38.3±9.8, p=0.05). L-carnitine treatment reduced PSQI in 12 out of 14 patients with sleep disturbance (PSQI>5). CSS was improved in 12 cases (63%), and PSQI was improved in 13 cases (68%). However, L-carnitine treatment did not improve daytime hypersomnolence, as evaluated by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. None of patients had any adverse events related to the L-carnitine treatment.Conclusions: L-carnitine is a safe and useful treatment for cirrhotic patients with reduced sleep quality and QOL. |
