Minimal hepatic encephalopathy: simplifying its diagnosis

Am J Gastroenterol. 2007 Jul;102(7):1537-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2007.01188.x.

Abstract

Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is relatively common and has a significant effect on the quality of life in patients with cirrhosis. However, diagnosing this entity clinically can be quite challenging. Inhibitory control testing (ICT) as a screening tool for diagnosis of MHE has been used clinically for sometime. The study published in this issue to validate ICT as a screening modality for MHE suggests it is a relatively simply, reliable test and can be easily administered by ancillary staff in the clinic. The study demonstrates that ICT has the potential to become a popular diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of MHE. A multicenter study to further validate the system for wider use will further strengthen the argument for its use in every patient with cirrhosis.

Publication types

  • Comment
  • Editorial

MeSH terms

  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Diagnostic Techniques, Cardiovascular / standards*
  • Hepatic Encephalopathy / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Severity of Illness Index