title: Current concepts in the assessment and treatment of hepatic encephalopathy.
abstract: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is defined as a metabolically induced, potentially reversible, functional disturbance of the brain that may occur in acute or chronic liver disease. Standardized nomenclature has been proposed but a standardized approach to the treatment, particularly of persistent, episodic and recurrent encephalopathy associated with liver cirrhosis has not been proposed. This review focuses on the pathogenesis and treatment of HE in patients with cirrhosis. The pathogenesis and treatment of hepatic encephalopathy in fulminant hepatic failure is quite different and is reviewed elsewhere.
authors.affiliation: St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. jcash@btinternet.com
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Cash
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McConville
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McDermott
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: McCormick
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Callender
authors.forename: N I
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: McDougall
mesh_terms: D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D022124:Hyperammonemia / Q000378:metabolism; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis