Successful use of bromocriptine in the treatment of chronic hepatic encephalopathy.

Abstract

Six patients with cirrhosis and severe chronic hepatic encephalopathy were treated with bromocriptine. All showed significant overall improvement clinically and in 3, the electroencephalogram became normal. The cerebral blood flow increased significantly from 32.7 +/- 2.4 (mean +/- 1 SE) to 40.5 +/- 1.5 ml/100 g brain/min (P less than 0.05). Similarly, there were significant improvements in the cerebral oxygen consumption from 2.2 +/- 0.4 to 3.3 +/- 0.4 ml/100 g brain/min (P less than 0.02) and in cerebral glucose consumption from 2.1 +/- 0.6 to 6.6 +/- 1.6 mg/100 g brain/min (P less than 0.02). Cross-over to placebo produced overall deterioration, more marked in the patients who had received the active drug for the shorter time period. No serious side effects were seen; the drug was well tolerated in doses of up to 15 mg daily and is a useful treatment for chronic hepatic encephalopathy when the response to conventional therapy has been poor.

• Authors: M Y Morgan, A W Jakobovits, I M James, S Sherlock
• Journal: Gastroenterology (Gastroenterology) Vol. 78 Issue 4 Pg. 663-70 (Apr 1980) ISSN: 0016-5085 [Print] United States
• PMID: 7353752 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Bromocriptine
• Glucose

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Brain (physiopathology)
• Bromocriptine (therapeutic use)
• Cerebrovascular Circulation
• Chronic Disease
• Drug Evaluation
• Electroencephalography
• Glucose (metabolism)
• Hepatic Encephalopathy (drug therapy, etiology, physiopathology)
• Humans
• Liver Cirrhosis (complications)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Oxygen Consumption