Hepatic Encephalopathy
Hepatic encephalopathy is a brain dysfunction caused by liver insufficiency or portosystemic shunting, commonly occurring in patients with cirrhosis or acute liver failure. It manifests as a spectrum of neurological and psychiatric symptoms ranging from subtle cognitive and personality changes to confusion, disorientation, altered consciousness, and ultimately coma. The condition results from the accumulation of neurotoxic substances in the bloodstream due to the liver's impaired ability to detoxify, leading to cerebral dysfunction. Approximately 70% of cirrhotic patients develop some form of hepatic encephalopathy, which can present as minimal (subclinical) or overt (clinically apparent) disease. It is not a primary brain disorder but a complication of severe liver disease, requiring prompt diagnosis and management to prevent progression to hepatic coma, a potentially fatal outcome.
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