title: Multimodality magnetic resonance imaging in hepatic encephalopathy: an update.
abstract: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a neuropsychiatric complication of cirrhosis or acute liver failure. Currently, HE is regarded as a continuous cognitive impairment ranging from the mildest stage, minimal HE to overt HE. Hyperammonaemia and neuroinflammation are two main underlying factors which contribute to the neurological alterations in HE. Both structural and functional impairments are found in the white mater and grey mater involved in HE. Although the investigations into HE pathophysiological mechanism are enormous, the exact pathophysiological causes underlying HE remain controversial. Multimodality magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays an important role in helping to understand the pathological process of HE. This paper reviews the up-to-date multimodality MRI methods and predominant findings in HE patients with a highlight of the increasingly important role of blood oxygen level dependent functional MRI.
authors.affiliation: Xiao-Dong Zhang, Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing Clinical School, Southern Medical University, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Xiao-Dong Zhang, Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing Clinical School, Southern Medical University, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Long-Jiang
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Xiao-Dong Zhang, Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing Clinical School, Southern Medical University, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Sheng-Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Xiao-Dong Zhang, Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing Clinical School, Southern Medical University, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Guang-Ming
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D055420:Perfusion Imaging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Blood oxygenation level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging; Default-mode network; Diffusion weighted imaging; Hepatic encephalopathy; Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic resonance spectroscopy