Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy Affects Daily Life of Cirrhotic Patients: A Viewpoint on Clinical Consequences and Therapeutic Opportunities
Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is a frequent complication of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and can affect up to 80% of patients with liver cirrhosis. It is characterized by the lack of obvious clinical signs and the presence of alterations detectable using psychometric or electrophysiological te...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/23/7246 |
| _version_ | 1797462881915109376 |
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| author | Jessica Faccioli Silvia Nardelli Stefania Gioia Oliviero Riggio Lorenzo Ridola |
| author_facet | Jessica Faccioli Silvia Nardelli Stefania Gioia Oliviero Riggio Lorenzo Ridola |
| author_sort | Jessica Faccioli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is a frequent complication of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and can affect up to 80% of patients with liver cirrhosis. It is characterized by the lack of obvious clinical signs and the presence of alterations detectable using psychometric or electrophysiological testing focused on attention, working memory, psychomotor speed and visuospatial ability. Ideally, each patient should be tested for this condition because, despite the absence of symptoms, it has severe repercussions on daily life activities. It may be responsible for an inability to drive, sleep disturbances, risk of falls and inability to work. Some studies have highlighted its prognostically unfavorable role on mortality and risk of “overt” HE (OHE). Finally, MHE severely affects the lives of patients and caregivers, altering their quality of life and their socioeconomic status. Several treatments have been proposed for MHE treatment, including non-absorbable disaccharides, poorly absorbable antibiotics, such as rifaximin, probiotics and branched-chain amino acids, with promising results. For this reason, early diagnosis and intervention with appropriate measures is essential, with the aim of improving both performance on psychometric tests, as well as clinical aspects related to this condition. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:42:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a4dbc8155fed4275a150a51b6e497671 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0383 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:42:49Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-a4dbc8155fed4275a150a51b6e4976712023-11-24T11:25:26ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832022-12-011123724610.3390/jcm11237246Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy Affects Daily Life of Cirrhotic Patients: A Viewpoint on Clinical Consequences and Therapeutic OpportunitiesJessica Faccioli0Silvia Nardelli1Stefania Gioia2Oliviero Riggio3Lorenzo Ridola4Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, ItalyMinimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is a frequent complication of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and can affect up to 80% of patients with liver cirrhosis. It is characterized by the lack of obvious clinical signs and the presence of alterations detectable using psychometric or electrophysiological testing focused on attention, working memory, psychomotor speed and visuospatial ability. Ideally, each patient should be tested for this condition because, despite the absence of symptoms, it has severe repercussions on daily life activities. It may be responsible for an inability to drive, sleep disturbances, risk of falls and inability to work. Some studies have highlighted its prognostically unfavorable role on mortality and risk of “overt” HE (OHE). Finally, MHE severely affects the lives of patients and caregivers, altering their quality of life and their socioeconomic status. Several treatments have been proposed for MHE treatment, including non-absorbable disaccharides, poorly absorbable antibiotics, such as rifaximin, probiotics and branched-chain amino acids, with promising results. For this reason, early diagnosis and intervention with appropriate measures is essential, with the aim of improving both performance on psychometric tests, as well as clinical aspects related to this condition.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/23/7246minimal hepatic encephalopathycirrhosisquality of lifesleep disorderstherapynon-absorbable disaccharides |
| spellingShingle | Jessica Faccioli Silvia Nardelli Stefania Gioia Oliviero Riggio Lorenzo Ridola Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy Affects Daily Life of Cirrhotic Patients: A Viewpoint on Clinical Consequences and Therapeutic Opportunities Journal of Clinical Medicine minimal hepatic encephalopathy cirrhosis quality of life sleep disorders therapy non-absorbable disaccharides |
| title | Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy Affects Daily Life of Cirrhotic Patients: A Viewpoint on Clinical Consequences and Therapeutic Opportunities |
| title_full | Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy Affects Daily Life of Cirrhotic Patients: A Viewpoint on Clinical Consequences and Therapeutic Opportunities |
| title_fullStr | Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy Affects Daily Life of Cirrhotic Patients: A Viewpoint on Clinical Consequences and Therapeutic Opportunities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy Affects Daily Life of Cirrhotic Patients: A Viewpoint on Clinical Consequences and Therapeutic Opportunities |
| title_short | Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy Affects Daily Life of Cirrhotic Patients: A Viewpoint on Clinical Consequences and Therapeutic Opportunities |
| title_sort | minimal hepatic encephalopathy affects daily life of cirrhotic patients a viewpoint on clinical consequences and therapeutic opportunities |
| topic | minimal hepatic encephalopathy cirrhosis quality of life sleep disorders therapy non-absorbable disaccharides |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/23/7246 |
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