Memory impairment in patients with cirrhosis.
OBJECTIVE
Subclinical hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in cirrhotic patients is usually characterized by memory impairment and psychomotor slowing. Our aim was to investigate memory status in cirrhotic patients with and without clinically overt HE.


METHODS
Thirty-two cirrhotic patients (10 female and 22 male) aged 49 +/- 17 years and 20 healthy subjects (six female and 14 male) aged 46 +/- 12 years were included in the study. Memory status was defined by Wechsler Memory Scale, verbal memory process and complex memory process tests.


RESULTS
Grade-1 HE was detected in 7 (22%) patients with cirrhosis. We detected 36 to 92% decrement in various memory tests in cirrhotic patients without HE as compared to healthy subjects. The scores for all psychometric testing results were significantly lower in cirrhotic patients without HE as compared to healthy subjects. We detected 42.9 to 100% decrement in various memory tests in cirrhotic patients with HE than cirrhotic patients without HE. However, there was no statistical significant difference between cirrhotic patients with and without HE. There was no statistical significant difference in cirrhotic patients with Child-Pugh A, B, and C.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, memory status was influenced in which patients with cirrhosis yet has a normal mental and neurological status to routine clinical examination (subclinical HE). Occasionally, decreased memory performance may adversely affect the satisfaction and lifestyle of these patients. Therefore, subclinical HE is an important social problem.
Bahceci
Funda
F
School of Medicine, Department on Internal Medicine, TR-44069, Malatya, Turkey. fbahceci@inonu.edu.tr
Yildirim
Bulent
B
Karincaoglu
Melih
M
Dogan
Ibrahim
I
Sipahi
Birsen
B
D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders; D012307:Risk Factors