Current and emerging strategies for treating hepatic encephalopathy.
Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is caused by liver impairment and has a multitude of symptoms in affected patients, including change in level of consciousness, intellectual function, and neuromuscular function. Pharmacologic therapy includes use of nonabsorbable disaccharides (lactulose and lactitol), and antibiotics such as neomycin, paromycin, metronidazole, and rifaximin. Probiotics, acarbose, and drugs such as L-carnitine and flumazenil, may also be helpful in treating HE.
Foster
Keith J
KJ
Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pharmacy, UMass Memorial Medical Center, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.
Lin
Sonia
S
Turck
Charles J
CJ
D020909:Acarbose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D020820:Dyskinesias / Q000209:etiology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D022124:Hyperammonemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D007792:Lactulose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012307:Risk Factors
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D018757:GABA Modulators; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D005442:Flumazenil; D007792:Lactulose; D002331:Carnitine; D020909:Acarbose