Tailored dose baclofen in patients with alcoholic liver disease: A case series with 2-year follow-up of hospitalisation
Date
2015-11Author
Heydtmann, Mathis
Macdonald, Benn
Lewsey, James
Masson, Neil
Cunningham, Leona
Irnazarow, Aleksandra
Nardone, Amanda
Cosgrave, Jan
Chick, Jonathan
Metadata
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Heydtmann, M., Macdonald, B., Lewsey, J., Masson, N., Cunningham, L., Irnazarow, A., Nardone, A., Cosgrave, J. & Chick, J. (2015) Tailored dose baclofen in patients with alcoholic liver disease: A case series with 2-year follow-up of hospitalisation, Addiction Research & Theory, vol. 23, , pp. 510-517,
Abstract
Introduction: Alcohol addiction is a major health burden with its consequences including liver disease and frequent hospitalisations. We used tailored-dose baclofen in patients with alcoholic liver disease and investigated hospital re-admissions before and after baclofen dose was initiated as well as tolerability and patient-reported alcohol consumption. Methods: Fifty-three hospitalised patients with alcoholic liver disease started tailored dose baclofen (median: 5.05 months, median highest dose before tapering down: 60 mg). Patients were followed-up for hospitalisation data from the health board database (mean hospitalisation follow up: 31 months) and patients were sent standardized questionnaires. Results: Baclofen was generally well tolerated with dose reductions in four patients. In the 2 years after initiation of the treatment, patients spent on an average of 19.1 d in the hospital per year compared to 25.48 d before the treatment initiation (p = 0.59). Respondents (19 patients) reported a reduction in alcohol consumption by an average of 58.7% (240.1 g to 144.09 g). Conclusions: After initiation of the baclofen treatment, there was a trend towards decrease in hospitalisations and in patients who answered the questionnaire, alcohol consumption decreased. 2015 Informa UK Ltd. All rights reserved.