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Review
. 2018 Dec;8(4):432-437.
doi: 10.1016/j.jceh.2018.07.001. Epub 2018 Jul 11.

Current Diagnosis and Classification of Hepatic Encephalopathy

Piero Amodio  1
Affiliations
Review

Current Diagnosis and Classification of Hepatic Encephalopathy

Piero Amodio. J Clin Exp Hepatol. 2018 Dec.

Abstract

Hepatic encephalopathy is a brain dysfunction caused by liver insufficiency and/or portal-systemic shunt; it manifests as a wide spectrum of neurological or psychiatric abnormalities ranging from subclinical alterations to coma. It should be differentiated from other neurological/psychiatric disorders that can occur in patients with liver disease. Its classification needs to take into account the underlying condition, severity, course, precipitating factors, and-possibly-sensitivity to ammonia-lowering agents.

Keywords: ACLF, acute-on-chronic liver failure; EEG; EEG, electroencephalogram; HE, Hepatic Encephalopathy; PSE, portal-systemic encephalopathy; cirrhosis; covert hepatic encephalopathy; minimal hepatic encephalopathy; psychometric tests.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart for the diagnosis of HE—modified from the study by Amodio—ALAs, ammonia-lowering agents; *high plasma ammonia level is a marker for liver insufficiency and/or portal-systemic blood shunting.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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