Hepatic encephalopathy classification
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] ; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mohamadmostafa Jahansouz M.D.[2]
Overview
Hepatic encephalopathy may be classified based on underlying liver disease into three types type A (acute), Type B (bypass) and type C (cirrhosis). The evaluation of severity of persistent hepatic encephalopathy is based on the West Haven Criteria. It includes mental status, level of impairment of autonomy, changes in consciousness, intellectual function, behavior, and the dependence on therapeutic factors into grading.
Classification
Based on underlying liver disease
According to world congress of gastroenterology, hepatic encephalopathy can be subdivided based on underlying liver disease association into type A, B, and C[1][2][3]
- Type A (acute): Describes hepatic encephalopathy associated with acute liver failure
- Type B (bypass): Is caused by portal-systemic shunting without associated intrinsic liver disease
- Type C (cirrhosis): Occurs in patients with cirrhosis (chronic liver disease)
Based on duration and characteristics of hepatic encephalopathy
Based on the duration and characteristics of hepatic encephalopathy, it can be classified into episodic, persistent, and minimal[4]
- Episodic hepatic encephalopathy: Has a short time span and fluctuates in severity
- Persistent hepatic encephalopathy: Occurs as a chronic clinical condition of cognitive deficits
- Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE): Occurs in patients with cirrhosis who do not demonstrate clinically overt cognitive dysfunction, but who show a cognitive impairment on neuropsychological studies[5][6]
Based on severity of the disease
The evaluation of severity of persistent hepatic encephalopathy is based on the West Haven Criteria.[2][1]
West Haven Criteria
- Grade 1:
- Trivial lack of awareness
- Euphoria or anxiety
- Short attention span
- 67% of cirrhotic patients may have minimal hepatic encephalopathy[7]
- Grade 2:
- Lethargy or apathy
- Minimal disorientation to time or place
- Subtle personality change
- Impaired performance in doing mathematical problems (specially subtraction)
- Grade 3:
- Somnolence to semi-stupor, but responsive to verbal stimuli
- Confusion
- Gross disorientation
- Grade 4:
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Conn HO, Leevy CM, Vlahcevic ZR, Rodgers JB, Maddrey WC, Seeff L, Levy LL. Comparison of lactulose and neomycin in the treatment of chronic portal-systemic encephalopathy. A double blind controlled trial. Gastroenterology 1977; 72: 573-83.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ferenci P, Lockwood A, Mullen K, Tarter R, Weissenborn K, Blei AT (2002). “Hepatic encephalopathy–definition, nomenclature, diagnosis, and quantification: final report of the working party at the 11th World Congresses of Gastroenterology, Vienna, 1998”. Hepatology. 35 (3): 716–21. doi:10.1053/jhep.2002.31250. PMID 11870389.
- ↑ Leise MD, Poterucha JJ, Kamath PS, Kim WR (2014). “Management of hepatic encephalopathy in the hospital”. Mayo Clin Proc. 89 (2): 241–53. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2013.11.009. PMC 4128786. PMID 24411831.
- ↑ Al Sibae MR, McGuire BM (2009). “Current trends in the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy”. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 5 (3): 617–26. PMC 2724191. PMID 19707277.
- ↑ Bajaj JS, Hafeezullah M, Hoffmann RG, Saeian K (2007). “Minimal hepatic encephalopathy: a vehicle for accidents and traffic violations”. Am J Gastroenterol. 102 (9): 1903–09. doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2007.01424.x. PMID 17640323.
- ↑ Bleibel W, Al-Osaimi AM (2012). “Hepatic encephalopathy”. Saudi J Gastroenterol. 18 (5): 301–9. doi:10.4103/1319-3767.101123. PMC 3500018. PMID 23006457.
- ↑ Prasad S, Dhiman RK, Duseja A, Chawla YK, Sharma A, Agarwal R (2007). “Lactulose improves cognitive functions and health-related quality of life in patients with cirrhosis who have minimal hepatic encephalopathy”. Hepatology. 45 (3): 549–59. doi:10.1002/hep.21533. PMID 17326150.
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