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Minimal hepatic encephalopathy in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis

Daniela Marić1, Biljana Klasnja, Danka Filipović

  • 1University Department of Infectious Diseases, Vojvodina Clinical Center, Novi Sad, Serbia. dijetinfo@gmail.com

Acta Clinica Croatica
|March 6, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (mHE) is common in liver cirrhosis patients, affecting daily life. Early diagnosis using tests like the Symbol Digit Test (SDT) is crucial to prevent disease progression.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Neurology
  • Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

  • Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (mHE) involves subtle cognitive changes impacting daily life in liver cirrhosis patients.
  • Early detection of mHE is vital to prevent progression to overt hepatic encephalopathy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To diagnose minimal hepatic encephalopathy (mHE) in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of specific neuropsychological tests and EEG in mHE diagnosis.

Main Methods:

  • Sixty patients with liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh B/C) underwent Mini Mental Score, Trail Making Test-A (TMT-A), and Symbol Digit Test (SDT).
  • Electroencephalography (EEG) was performed on all participants.
  • Test result limits were established using control group data and standard deviations.

Main Results:

  • All three neuropsychological tests showed statistically significant differences between patient and control groups.
  • Electroencephalography (EEG) revealed abnormalities in all patients with cirrhosis.
  • 80% of cirrhosis patients exhibited signs of minimal hepatic encephalopathy (mHE).
  • The Symbol Digit Test (SDT) was most effective in identifying mHE patients.
  • Child-Pugh score correlated with performance on neuropsychological tests.

Conclusions:

  • Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (mHE) is highly prevalent in decompensated liver cirrhosis.
  • Neuropsychological tests, particularly SDT, and EEG are valuable tools for diagnosing mHE.
  • Early diagnosis of mHE is essential for managing liver disease and preventing complications.

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