CONTEXTO: Estudos experimentais e clínicos sugerem que a L-ornitina-L-aspartato pode ter uma influência favorável na encefalopatia hepática em virtude do seu efeito na redução da amônia, e melhora dos sintomas e achados laboratoriais. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar e analisar criticamente os estudos de eficácia e/ou efetividade do uso de L-ornitina-L-aspartato quando comparado com placebo no tratamento da encefalopatia hepática. FONTES DE INFORMAÇÃO: Foram pesquisadas as bases de dados LILACS, SciELO, MEDLINE, PubMed e o Registro de Ensaios Controlados da Colaboração Cochrane no período de 1966 até setembro de 2006. A revisão incluiu todos os ensaios clínicos controlados randomizados, duplo-cego, em seres humanos, no idioma inglês. RESULTADOS: Foram selecionados e revisados quatro estudos publicados entre 1993 e 2000, que mostraram que a L-ornitina-L-aspartato foi capaz de reduzir a hiperamonemia em portadores de encefalopatia hepática, quando comparados ao grupo que utilizou placebo. CONCLUSÕES: Embora os estudos tenham demonstrado eficácia da L-ornitina-L-aspartato em reduzir a hiperamonemia da encefalopatia hepática, não foi encontrada evidência suficiente que a L-ornitina-L-aspartato tenha um efeito clínico benéfico significativo em pacientes com encefalopatia hepática. Os ensaios realizados neste campo foram pequenos com períodos curtos de acompanhamento e a metade deles com baixa qualidade metodológica.

CONTEXT: Experimental and clinical studies suggest that LOLA may have a favorable influence on hepatic encephalopathy due to the effect on the reduction of ammonia, and improvement of the symptoms and laboratory findings. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate and to critically analyze the efficacy and/or effectiveness results of the use of LOLA when compared to placebo in the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy. DATA SOURCES: LILACS, SciELO, MEDLINE, PubMed database and Cochrane Collaboration Register of Controlled Trials were searched from 1966 to September of 2006. The review has included all the randomized controlled double-blind clinical trials performed in humans in English language. RESULTS: Four studies published between 1993 and 2000 were selected and reviewed. LOLA was showed as being able to reduce hyperammonemia in patients with hepatic encephalopathy, when compared to patients in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: Although the trials have shown efficacy of LOLA in reducing hyperammonemia of hepatic encephalopathy, sufficient evidence of a significant beneficial effect of LOLA on patients with hepatic encephalopathy was not found. The studies performed in this area were small, with short follow-up periods and half of them showed low methodological quality.

OBJECTIVE: To examine health care use and expenditures by Brazilians covered by private health care plans in the last four years of life. METHODS: Health plan provider enrollee files and death certificate data were used for 274 health plan beneficiaries who died in 1998, 1999, and 2000. Resources used for a beneficiary in the year of death and in the three years prior to death were identified. Descriptive statistical analyses were used for clinical and socio-demographic characteristics and to describe the costs. RESULTS: Of the 274 deaths included in this analysis, 92 occurred in 1998, 82 in 1999, and 100 in 2000. Most of the deceased were males (61.4%). Distribution in terms of type of health plan coverage (full versus hospitalization-only coverage) was similar among beneficiaries (53% had hospitalization only and 47% had full coverage). The total health plan expenditure in the last four years of life for the 274 decedents was US$ 26 300 283 (US$ 12 287 723 for beneficiaries with hospitalization-only and US$ 14 012 560 for those with full coverage). Expenditures increased progressively in the four years preceding death. About 70% of medical expenses for decedents in the four years of this analysis were incurred in the last year of life. CONCLUSION: Relatively large amounts of health care resources are used by Brazilian private health plan participants in their last year of life, suggesting that specific strategies are needed to optimize the allocation of medical care resources for these patients.

OBJETIVO: Examinar la utilización de los servicios de salud y los gastos asociados durante los últimos cuatro años de vida de brasileños con seguro privado de salud. MÉTODOS: Se emplearon los expedientes del seguro y los certificados de defunción de 274 beneficiarios de seguros de salud que murieron entre 1998 y 2000. Se identificaron los recursos utilizados para cada beneficiario durante el año que murió y los tres años anteriores. Mediante métodos estadísticos descriptivos se analizaron las características clínicas y sociodemográficas y se describieron los costos. RESULTADOS: De los 274 fallecidos analizados, 92 murieron en 1998, 82 en 1999 y 100 en 2000; la mayoría de ellos (61,4%) eran hombres. La distribución según el tipo de seguro de salud fue similar (cobertura total: 47%; solo cobertura de hospitalización: 53%). El gasto total del seguro de salud en los últimos cuatro años de vida de los 274 fallecidos fue de US$ 26 300 283 (US$ 12 287 723 para los beneficiarios con cobertura de hospitalización solamente y US$ 14 012 560 para los que tenían cobertura total). Los gastos aumentaron progresivamente en los cuatro años previos a la muerte. Cerca de 70% de los gastos médicos de los fallecidos en los cuatro años analizados correspondieron al último año de vida. CONCLUSIONES: Los brasileños con seguro médico privado utilizan una cantidad relativamente grande de recursos sanitarios en su último año de vida, por lo que se requieren estrategias específicas para optimizar la asignación de recursos de atención médica para estos pacientes.