ROLE OF ENTERAL NUTRITION IN CORRECTION OF PROTEIN-ENERGY EXCHANGE AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN LIVER CIRRHOSIS OF VIRAL ETIOLOGY
The aim of this work is to improve the efficiency of treatment and life quality of patients with HCV hepatic cirrhosis (HC) Class C by means of correction of protein-energy insufficiency (PEI) using enteral nutritive mixtures with branched-chain amino acids (BCAA). Object and methods of research. A randomized prospective controlled open research of the efficiency of therapy with enteral nutritive mixtures with BCAA for patients with HCV hepatic cirrhosis Class C (score: 10-12) was conducted. It evaluated life quality of the patients (by questionnaire SF-36), the degree of hepatic encephalopathy (by number connection test) as well as the protein-energy insufficiency indexes (weight index, arm muscles circumference, skin-fat fold for triceps and albumin). Results: Nutritive support with BCAA prevents progression of protein-energy insufficiency, improves functionality class of patients with HCV hepatic cirrhosis Class C and reduces severity of hepatic encephalopathy, p < 0.003. Enteral nutrition with BCAA improves life quality of patients with HCV hepatic cirrhosis Class C, p < 0.012. Conclusion: Enteral nutrition with BCAA for patients with HCV hepatic cirrhosis Class C (score: 10-12) improves treatment efficiency and is safe.