Review article: pathogenesis and treatment of chronic hepatic encephalopathy.
The various treatment strategies for hepatic encephalopathy are compared in the light of the available body of scientific work on the pathogenesis of the syndrome. Data on animal models of hepatic encephalopathy and in vitro studies on brain slices are discussed. Difficulties in extrapolating the results obtained to the human situation are highlighted, while results of human positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies are outlined on the background of the potential weaknesses of these non-invasive techniques.
Jalan
R
R
Centre of Liver and Digestive Diseases, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK.
Seery
J P
JP
Taylor-Robinson
S D
SD
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D004032:Diet; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004187:Disaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D018682:GABA Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004151:Dipeptides; D004187:Disaccharides; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D018682:GABA Agents; D009498:Neurotoxins; C002939:ornithylaspartate