[Changes of plasma amino acids in cirrhotics treated with ornithine salts]

The plasma amino acid pattern of cirrhotic patients was determined before and after 24 h of continuous infusions of glucose, ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate (O alpha KG), ornithine chlorhydrate (ORN HCl) and sodium ketoglutarate (alpha CGNa). Before treatment, leucine, isoleucine, valine and glutamine levels were low. Tyrosine and methionine levels were high. (See formula in text) was low. Glucose infusions had no effect. O alpha KG increased levels of leucine, isoleucine, valine, alanine and arginine. Threonine, serine, glycine, aspartic acid, methionine, hemicystine, tyrosine and phenylalanine were significantly lowered. (See formula in text) increased. ORN HCl and alpha CGNa did not induce similar changes.