Abstract

ROMERO GOMEZ, Manuel; SENDRA, Carmen  and  AMPUERO, Javier. The impact of minimal hepatic encephalopathy treatment in long-term prognosis. Salud(i)ciencia [online]. 2018, vol.23, n.1, pp.34-42. ISSN 1667-8682.

Abstract Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) affects up to 30-50% of cirrhotic patients. The detection of MHE is essential because of its relationship with overt hepatic encephalopathy, impairment of motor vehicle driving abilities, higher risk of falls, quality of life impairment, faster cirrhosis progression and survival. Despite the robust evidence regarding its clinical, prognostic and social relevance, MHE testing is not widespread in routine clinical care. Hepatic encephalopathy spectrum covers various alterations in complex brain functions, requiring more than one test to be quantified. In addition, initial disturbances differ from one patient to another. All this has made it difficult to develop a universal diagnostic strategy. As a consequence, there is a lack of available robust data in the literature to generate evidence-based recommendations related to the impact of MHE treatment on quality of life and survival of these patients, as well as on cost-effectiveness. Therefore, current clinical guidelines suggest MHE testing only when patients have problems with their quality of life, since consequences of the screening procedure are still unclear. Ammonia lowering therapies have been considered the cornerstone of MHE treatment. Beneficial effects of non-absorbable disaccharides (lactulose or lactitol), rifaximin and more recently, probiotics have been reported. Further placebo-controlled trials are needed to assess the efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of available treatment regimes to evaluate the impact of MHE treatment on the long-term prognosis of these patients.

Keywords : cirrhosis; lactulose; minimal hepatic encephalopathy; neurophysiological tests; probiotics; psychometric tests; rifaximin.

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