title: Validation of the number connection test for identifying patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hepatic encephalopathy is a serious neuropsychiatric complication in advanced liver disease. The affected patients exhibit alterations in psychomotor and intellectual functions. The aims of this study were to identif the set ofnormal values for the number connection tests (NCT-A and NCT-B) in a population of volunteers without liver disease, to compare the values from this reference population with those from patients with cirrhosis without hepatic encephalopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was performed in two referral hospitals in an urban setting from the city of La Plata. We evaluated the Number Connection Tests in 112 healthy subjects and 30 patients with cirrhosis without manifestations of hepatic encephalopathy. Time for performing the tests was measured in seconds. Results were compared according to age, gender, level of education and fine motor skills in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age in the control group was 45.3years; 56 (50%) were women. Mean age in the cirrhotic group was 54.5 years; 8 (27%) were women. In the control group, the mean time for completing NCT-A and NCT-B was 60 s +/- 36s and 140 s +/- 60 s, respectively. In the cirrhotic group, the mean time for completing NCT-A and NCT-B was 114 s +/- 64 y 232 s +/- 87 s, respectively (P = 0.00001 for both tests). 56.6% of cirrhotic patients took more than 2 SD to perform the NCT-A and 53.3%, more than 2 SD to perform the NCT-B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have obtained reference values for NCT-A and NCT-B completing times in our healthy population. Cirrhotic patients without overt hepatic encephalopathy took double time than controls to complete NCT-A and NCT-B and over half of our patients would have minimal hepatic encephalopathy.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Hígado, Sala de Gastroenterología, Hospital Interzonal San Roque, Gonnet, Prov de Buenos Aires, Argentina. raul.adrover@gmail.com
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Adrover
authors.forename: Malena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barrio
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malca Albuquerque
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Romé
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Borzi
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cocozzella
authors.forename: Ezequiel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ridruejo
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Curciarello
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult