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Evidence of persistent cognitive impairment after resolution of overt hepatic encephalopathy.
- Source :
-
Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association [Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol] 2011 Feb; Vol. 9 (2), pp. 181-3. Date of Electronic Publication: 2010 Oct 15. - Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Background & Aims: The Inhibitory Control Test has been proposed as a tool to detect the persistence of cognitive defects after the resolution of overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE). We tested learning abilities of cirrhotic patients using the Psychometric Hepatic Encephalopathy Score (PHES).<br />Methods: One hundred six cirrhotic patients who agreed to be examined twice within 3 days were studied using the PHES. Twenty-seven patients had previous OHE; of the remaining 79 patients, 34 were affected by minimal HE and 45 were normal.<br />Results: Among patients without previous OHE, PHESs significantly improved at the second examination; this learning effect was present in the patients with or without minimal HE. To the contrary, learning ability was lost in patients with previous OHE. Even among the 8 patients with history of HE and normal PHESs in the first examination, repeated testing showed a lack of learning capacity.<br />Conclusions: HE is not a fully reversible condition. Residual cognitive impairments should be evaluated by specific tests, based on patients' learning capacities.<br /> (Copyright © 2011 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1542-7714
- Volume :
- 9
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 20951832
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2010.10.002