Neuropsychological characterization and detection of subclinical hepatic encephalopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate the nature of the neuropsychological deficits associated with subclinical hepatic encephalopathy.


METHODS
Prospective study comparing the performance of patients with liver disease and carefully matched normal controls on a short but comprehensive neuropsychological test battery.


METHODS
A university medical center.


METHODS
Twenty patients with cirrhosis (10 alcoholic and 10 nonalcoholic) and 20 controls carefully matched on the basis of age, sex, education, and alcohol history.


RESULTS
The cirrhotic patients exhibited relatively selective deficits in complex attentional and fine motor skills, with preservation of general intellectual ability, memory, language and visuospatial perception.


CONCLUSIONS
This pattern of neuropsychological deficits suggests a subcortical pathophysiology, possibly reflecting involvement of the basal ganglia. These neuropsychological findings are consistent with recent neuroradiological, electrophysiological, and neurophysiological research implicating basal ganglia involvement in cirrhosis.
McCrea
M
M
Department of Psychiatry, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Ill., USA.
Cordoba
J
J
Vessey
G
G
Blei
A T
AT
Randolph
C
C
D005260:Female; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies