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Abstract Details
Social Impact of Hepatic Encephalopathy
Clin Liver Dis. 2020 May;24(2):291-301. doi: 10.1016/j.cld.2020.01.008.Epub 2020 Mar 2.
Mishal Reja 1, Lauren Pioppo Phelan 2, Frank Senatore 3, Vinod K Rustgi 4
Author information
1Department of Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Clinical Academic Building (CAB), 125 Paterson Street, Suite 5100B, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. Electronic address: dr845@rwjms.rutgers.edu.
2Department of Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Clinical Academic Building (CAB), 125 Paterson Street, Suite 5100B, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
3Department of Gastroenterology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Clinical Academic Building, 125 Paterson Street, Suite 5100B, 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. Electronic address: vr262@rwjms.rutgers.edu.
Abstract
Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a multifaceted disorder, with effects stretching far beyond office visits and hospitalizations. Patients with HE suffer from varying degrees of altered consciousness, intellectual disability, and personality changes. A large social impact exists for patients with HE. Quality of life and activities of daily living, such as work capacity, driving ability, and sleep quality, have been shown to be affected. Additionally, caregiver and financial burdens are highly prevalent. Multiple tools exist to assess quality of life, including the CLD-Q questionnaire. Common treatments for HE, including rifaximin and lactulose, have been shown to improve overall quality of life.