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Abstract Details
Current pathogenetic aspects of hepatic encephalopathy and noncirrhotic hyperammonemic encephalopathy
Cichoż-Lach H, Michalak A. World J Gastroenterol. 2013 Jan 7;19(1):26-34. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i1.26.
Source
Halina Cichoż-Lach, Department of Gastroenterology, Medical University of Lublin, 20094 Lublin, Poland.
Abstract
Hepatic encephalopathy is a medical phenomenon that is described as a neuropsychiatric manifestation of chronic or acute liver disease that is characterized by psychomotor, intellectual and cognitive abnormalities with emotional/affective and behavioral disturbances. This article focuses on the underlying mechanisms of the condition and the differences between hepatic encephalopathy and noncirrhotic hyperammonemic encephalopathy. Hepatic encephalopathy is a serious condition that can cause neurological death with brain edema and intracranial hypertension. It is assumed that approximately 60%-80% of patients with liver cirrhosis develop hepatic encephalopathy. This review explores the complex mechanisms that lead to hepatic encephalopathy. However, noncirrhotic hyperammonemic encephalopathy is not associated with hepatic diseases and has a completely different etiology. Noncirrhotic hyperammonemic encephalopathy is a severe occurrence that is connected with multiple pathogeneses.