Ornicetil on encephalopathy. Effect of ornicetil (ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate) on encephalopathy in patients with acute and chronic liver disease.

Di-L (+)-ornithine, alpha ketogluterate infusions were compared with infusions of dextrose water in 27 comatosed patients with acute and chronic liver disease. Of 7 patients with acute liver disease no improvement of conciousness was found in any of these patients. Of 20 patients with chronic liver disease, lowering of blood ammonia level during ornicetil therapy occurred in 8, during the control infusion in 6, and no effect was seen in 4. Improvement of conciousness during ornicetil occurred in 11, during the control infusion in 6 and 3 had no improvement. Among those who improved, 4 in the ornicetil group and 2 in the control group improved after the precipitating causes were controlled or corrected. This study indicated that ornicetil has no beneficial effect on the treatment of coma in various forms of hepatic disease.