Short term effect of lactulose therapy in patients with chronic renal failure

Effect of lactulose therapy was examined in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) prior to hemodialysis (HD). Twenty three patients were included in this study. Ten out of the 23 patients were continuously treated with lactulose at a dosage of 18 g/day for eight weeks. However, 12 out of the 23 patients dropped out because of nausea and/or watery diarrhea during the therapy. One patient was transfered to HD one month after the beginning of lactulose therapy. Ratios of guanidinosuccinic acid (GSA) in plasma after eight weeks were significantly lower than those before treatment. Cessation of treatment was significantly related to worsening of the GSA (p less than 0.01). It seems that lactulose therapy could be useful in the treatment of CRF if compliance of the therapy is maintained after reducing some adverse effects.