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Abstract Details
Pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy
Ciećko-Michalska I, Szczepanek M, Słowik A, Mach T. Gastroenterol Res Pract. 2012;2012:642108. doi: 10.1155/2012/642108. Epub 2012 Dec 17.
Source
Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Sniadeckich Street 5, 31-531 Krakow, Poland.
Abstract
Hepatic encephalopathy can be a serious complication of acute liver failure and chronic liver diseases, predominantly liver cirrhosis. Hyperammonemia plays the most important role in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy. The brain-blood barrier disturbances, changes in neurotransmission, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, GABA-ergic or benzodiazepine pathway abnormalities, manganese neurotoxicity, brain energetic disturbances, and brain blood flow abnormalities are considered to be involved in the development of hepatic encephalopathy. The influence of small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) on the induction of minimal hepatic encephalopathy is recently emphasized. The aim of this paper is to present the current views on the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy.