Encephalopathy overview

Encephalopathy
Home
Patient Information
Overview
Classification
Pathophysiology
Causes
Differentiating Encephalopathy from other Diseases
Epidemiology & Demographics
Risk Factors
Screening
Natural History, Complications & Prognosis
Diagnosis
Symptoms
Physical Examination
Laboratory Findings
Electrocardiogram
Electroencephalogram
Chest X Ray
CT
MRI
Echocardiography or Ultrasound
Other Imaging Findings
Other Diagnostic Studies
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Surgery
Prevention
Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy
Future or Investigational Therapies
Encephalopathy overview On the Web
Most recent articles
Most cited articles
Review articles
CME Programs
Powerpoint slides
Images
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Encephalopathy overview All Images X-rays Echo & Ultrasound CT Images MRI
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse
NICE Guidance
FDA on Encephalopathy overview
CDC on Encephalopathy overview
Encephalopathy overview in the news
Blogs on Encephalopathy overview
Directions to Hospitals Treating Encephalopathy
Risk calculators and risk factors for Encephalopathy overview

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] ; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aditya Govindavarjhulla, M.B.B.S. [2]

Overview

Encephalopathy is a clinical manifestation that can be caused by any pathology affecting brain function. The pathology can be intracranial or extra-cranial in origin. This brain malfunction can be due to systemic metabolic derangements in cardiopulmonary, mitochondrial[[3]], renal, hepatic or endocrine systems. In medical jargon it can refer to a wide variety of degenerative brain disorders with very different etiologies, prognoses and implications. For example, prion diseases, all of which cause transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, are nearly always fatal and have an infectious origin, but other encephalopathies are reversible and can be caused by deficiency, toxins, and several other causes.