Effect of taurine administration for muscle cramp in chronic liver disease —A case of decompensated liver cirrhosis in which muscle cramp disappeared after oral administration of taurine—

Abstract

Muscle cramp is one of common symptoms in chronic liver diseases (CLD). But there are very few effective treatments for it. We administered taurine to the patients with muscle cramp in CLD. A 64-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of bilateral pretibial edema and muscle cramp at upper and lower limbs. Physical examination revealed no abnormality. Liver function tests showed slight elevation of GOT, GPT, γ-GTP and LAP levels, and decreased total protein, albumin and Ch-E levels. Serum electrolytes, Ca and Cu levels were within normal range. Hepatic ultrasonography and liver syntigram showed liver cirrhosis pattern. In neurological examination, an irregular muscle discharge was found at proximal and distal leg muscle in resting. Irregular muscle contraction appeared after electric stimulation. Taurine was tried to administered postprandialy at doses of 3.0 g, three times daily. Muscle cramp disappeared after taurine administration. It reappeared after treatment was discontinued. After readministratin it disappeared. And during taurine treatment, muscle cramp did not appear after electric stimulation on EMG. Furthermore, we administered taurine to other 10 patients with muscle cramp in CLD. As a result of this, muscle cramp disappeared in 7 cases, and decreased in 3 cases. In conclusion, it is speculated that the long-term administration of taurine is a safe and effective treatment for the improvement of muscle cramp in CLD. © 1990, The Japan Society of Hepatology. All rights reserved.