Novel Therapies in Hepatic Encephalopathy

Abstract

Despite widespread use of lactulose and rifaximin for the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy, this complication of advanced liver disease remains a major burden on the health care system in the United States and continues to predispose to high morbidity and mortality. Several agents have surfaced over recent years with promise to treat hepatic encephalopathy and mitigate the cognitive impairment associated with this disease process. The purpose of this article is to highlight the leading emerging therapies in hepatic encephalopathy as well as their therapeutic targets.

Keywords: Acetyl-L-carnitine; Ammonia scavengers; Flumazenil; Glycerolphenylbutyrate; Gut; Hepatic encephalopathy; Polyethylene glycol.