Minimal hepatic encephalopathy.
The term minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) refers to the subtle changes in cognitive function, electrophysiological parameters, cerebral neurochemical/neurotransmitter homeostasis, cerebral blood flow, metabolism, and fluid homeostasis that can be observed in patients with cirrhosis who have no clinical evidence of hepatic encephalopathy; the prevalence is as high as 84% in patients with hepatic cirrhosis. Physician does generally not perceive cirrhosis complications, and neuropsychological tests and another especial measurement like evoked potentials and image studies like positron emission tomography can only make diagnosis. Diagnosis of minimal hepatic encephalopathy may have prognostic and therapeutic implications in cirrhotic patients. The present review pretends to explore the clinic, therapeutic, diagnosis and prognostic aspects of this complication.
Gastroenterology Department, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición "Salvador Zubirán". Mexico City.
Luis Eduardo
LE
Zamora Nava
Aldo
A
Torre Delgadillo
D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index