Hepatic Encephalopathy

Abstract

Hepatic encephalopathy is a clinical syndrome characterized by abnormal mental status occurring in patients with severe hepatic insufficiency. It is a neuropsychiatric disorder associated with characteristic but nonspecific histologic lesions in the central nervous system.¹ The clinical manifestations range from a slightly altered mental status to coma. The neuromuscular complications may range from incoordination and tremor to ophthalmoplegia and incontinence.The symptoms of hepatic coma are directly related to the rapidity with which hepatic failure develops and to its severity. The causes are numerous and have been reviewed elsewhere.² With the advent of many new hepatotoxic drugs and the increased . . .