title: Hepatic encephalopathy.
abstract: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) represents a continuum of transient and reversible neurologic and psychiatric dysfunction. It is a reversible state of impaired cognitive function or altered consciousness in patients with liver disease or portosystemic shunting. Over the last several years, high-quality studies have been conducted on various pharmacologic therapies for HE; as more data emerge, it is hoped that HE will become a more easily treated complication of decompensated liver disease. In the interim, it is important that physicians continue to screen for minimal HE and treat patients early in addition to continuing to provide current treatments of overt HE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA. vandana.khungar@gmail.com
authors.forename: Vandana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Khungar
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Poordad
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000931:Antidotes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002606:Charcoal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007792:Lactulose / Q000627:therapeutic use; D056692:Prebiotics; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012294:Rifamycins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000078262:Rifaximin
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000931:Antidotes; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D056692:Prebiotics; D012294:Rifamycins; D002606:Charcoal; D007792:Lactulose; D000641:Ammonia; D000078262:Rifaximin