Author information

• ¹Department of Internal Medicine, Rutgers- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 125 Paterson Street, CAB 7302, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
• ²Department of Internal Medicine, Rutgers- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 125 Paterson Street, CAB 7302, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. Electronic address: drsun0513@gmail.com.
• ³Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Rutgers- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 125 Paterson Street, CAB 7302, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
• ⁴Center for Liver Diseases and Masses, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Clinical Academic Building (CAB), 125 Paterson Street, Suite 5100B, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.

Abstract

Minimal hepatic encephalopathy, previously called subclinical hepatic encephalopathy, represents the earliest and mildest form of hepatic encephalopathy. It is the most under-recognized and underdiagnosed form of hepatic encephalopathy. Although there is no diagnostic gold standard, validated testing modalities have been devised to detect this neurocognitive complication. The newest developments include medically related apps for smartphones or tablets that can be easily used to diagnose and monitor minimal hepatic encephalopathy. Although recognition of this neurocognitive impairment can be challenging, early detection is paramount with the discovery of an association with worse clinical outcomes in patients diagnosed with minimal hepatic encephalopathy.