Hepatic encephalopathy overview: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
''Hepatic encephalopathy'' (sometimes hepatoencephalopathy) is a potentially reversible neuropsychiatic abnormality in the setting of [[liver failure]], whether chronic (as in [[cirrhosis]]), or [[acute liver failure|acutely]]. It can be diagnosed only after exclusion of other neurological, psychiatric, infectious and metabolic etiologies. | |||
With severe liver impairment, toxic substances normally removed by the liver accumulate in the [[blood]] and impair the function of [[brain]] cells. If there is also [[portal hypertension]], and subsequent bypassing of the liver filtration system of blood flowing in from the intestines, these toxic substances can travel directly to the brain, without being modified or purified. Signs can include impaired [[cognition]], a flapping tremor ([[asterixis]]), and a decreased level of consciousness including coma (hepatic coma or coma hepaticum), [[cerebral edema]], and, ultimately, death. | With severe liver impairment, toxic substances normally removed by the liver accumulate in the [[blood]] and impair the function of [[brain]] cells. If there is also [[portal hypertension]], and subsequent bypassing of the liver filtration system of blood flowing in from the intestines, these toxic substances can travel directly to the brain, without being modified or purified. Signs can include impaired [[cognition]], a flapping tremor ([[asterixis]]), and a decreased level of consciousness including coma (hepatic coma or coma hepaticum), [[cerebral edema]], and, ultimately, death. | ||
Revision as of 16:00, 8 February 2013
|
Hepatic encephalopathy Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Hepatic encephalopathy overview On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Hepatic encephalopathy overview |
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Hepatic encephalopathy overview |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Please help WikiDoc by adding more content here. It's easy! Click here to learn about editing.
Overview
Hepatic encephalopathy (sometimes hepatoencephalopathy) is a potentially reversible neuropsychiatic abnormality in the setting of liver failure, whether chronic (as in cirrhosis), or acutely. It can be diagnosed only after exclusion of other neurological, psychiatric, infectious and metabolic etiologies.
With severe liver impairment, toxic substances normally removed by the liver accumulate in the blood and impair the function of brain cells. If there is also portal hypertension, and subsequent bypassing of the liver filtration system of blood flowing in from the intestines, these toxic substances can travel directly to the brain, without being modified or purified. Signs can include impaired cognition, a flapping tremor (asterixis), and a decreased level of consciousness including coma (hepatic coma or coma hepaticum), cerebral edema, and, ultimately, death.