What is Hepatic Encephalopathy?

Description of the disease

Hepatic encephalopathy is a pathological condition characterized by central nervous system damage due to hepatic dysfunction. It occurs in chronic liver diseases such as cirrhosis, hepatitis, fatty liver disease, and others.

Classification

• By severity: mild, moderate, severe;
• By chronicity: acute, chronic, recurrent;
• By course: slowly progressive, rapidly progressive.

Symptoms

• Sleep and wakefulness disturbances;
• Tremor;
• Increased irritability;
• Memory and concentration loss;
• Muscle weakness, etc.

Causes

The main causes of hepatic encephalopathy development are liver dysfunction due to toxic effects, impaired blood supply, the presence of portosystemic collateral circulation, and others.

Diagnostics

To establish a diagnosis, it is necessary to perform a general blood and urine analysis, biochemical tests, ultrasound examination of the liver, CT scan of the brain, and other methods.

Treatment

The treatment of hepatic encephalopathy aims to restore liver function, eliminate toxic effects, correct water-electrolyte and protein metabolism disorders, prescribe a special diet, and drug therapy.

Prevention

Prevention of hepatic encephalopathy involves timely diagnosis and treatment of chronic liver diseases, abstaining from alcohol, observing the proper diet, etc.

Doctor

Hepatic encephalopathy treatment is provided by a gastroenterologist or hepatologist.