Skip to main content
Gut logoLink to Gut
. 1971 Sep;12(9):702–704. doi: 10.1136/gut.12.9.702

Effect of lactulose on cerebral metabolism in patients with chronic portosystemic encephalopathy

I M James, M Garassini
PMCID: PMC1411795  PMID: 5098325

Abstract

Cerebral blood flow and cerebral metabolism were studied in six patients with moderately severe portosystemic encephalopathy before and after a 10-day course of lactulose. As a result of therapy there was a mean increase in cerebral oxygen utilization but no changes in either mean glucose consumption or in mean cerebral blood flow. It appears therefore that the abnormalities in cerebral metabolism that have been previously described in patients with hepatic encephalopathy can be improved by the oral administration of lactulose.

Full text

PDF
702

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. ALMAN R. W., EHRMANTRAUT W. R., FAZEKAS J. F., TICKTIN H. E. Cerebral metabolism in hepatic insufficiency. Am J Med. 1956 Dec;21(6):843–849. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(56)90098-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bircher J., Müller J., Guggenheim P., Haemmerli U. P. Treatment of chronic portal-systemic encephalopathy with lactulose. Lancet. 1966 Apr 23;1(7443):890–892. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(66)91573-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. James I. M., Sampson D., Nashat S., Williams H. S., Garassini M. Effect of induced metabolic alkalosis in hepatic encephalopathy. Lancet. 1969 Nov 22;2(7630):1106–1108. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(69)90706-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. LINDEN R. J., LEDSOME J. R., NORMAN J. SIMPLE METHODS FOR THE DETERMINATION OF THE CONCENTRATIONS OF CARBON DIOXIDE AND OXYGEN IN BLOOD. Br J Anaesth. 1965 Feb;37:77–88. doi: 10.1093/bja/37.2.77. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Mallett B. L., Veall N. The measurement of regional cerebral clearance rates in man using xenon-133 inhalation and extracranial recording. Clin Sci. 1965 Aug;29(1):179–191. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. POSNER J. B., PLUM F. The toxic effects of carbon dioxide and acetazolamide in hepatic encephalopathy. J Clin Invest. 1960 Aug;39:1246–1258. doi: 10.1172/JCI104140. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Parbhoo S. P., James I. M., Ajdukiewicz A., Xanalatos C., Kennedy J., Chalstrey L. J., Brock P. J., Sayer P., Sherlock S. Extracorporeal pig-liver perfusoon in treatment of hepatic coma due to fulminant hepatitis. Lancet. 1971 Apr 3;1(7701):659–665. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(71)92678-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Polli E., Bianchi Porro G., Maiolo A. T. Cerebral metabolism after portacaval shunt. Lancet. 1969 Jan 18;1(7586):153–153. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(69)91163-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Summerskill W. H., Aoyagi T., Evans W. B. Ammonia in the upper gastrointestinal tract of man: quantitations and relationships. Gut. 1966 Oct;7(5):497–501. doi: 10.1136/gut.7.5.497. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Gut are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES