[Prevention of hepatic encephalopathy].

Abstract

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a frequent complication of cirrhosis which, in addition to producing a great social impact, deteriorates the quality of life of patients and is considered a sign of advanced liver disease and therefore a clinical indication for liver transplant evaluation. Patients who have had episodes of HE have a high risk of recurrence. Thus, after the HE episode resolves, it is recommended: control and prevention of precipitating factors (gastrointestinal bleeding, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, use of diuretics with caution, avoid nervous system depressant medications), continued administration of non-absorbable disaccharides such as lactulose or lactitol, few or non-absorbable antibiotics such as rifaximin and assess the need for a liver transplant as the presence of a HE episode carries a poor prognosis in cirrhosis.

• Authors: Rosa M Morillas, Marga Sala, Ramon Planas
• Journal: Medicina clinica (Med Clin (Barc)) Vol. 142 Issue 11 Pg. 512-4 (Jun 06 2014) ISSN: 1578-8989 [Electronic] Spain
• Vernacular Title: Profilaxis de la encefalopatía hepática.
• PMID: 24480288 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Central Nervous System Depressants
• Diuretics
• Rifamycins
• Sugar Alcohols
• Lactulose
• lactitol
• Rifaximin

Topics

• Anti-Bacterial Agents (administration & dosage, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use)
• Central Nervous System Depressants (adverse effects)
• Contraindications
• Diuretics (adverse effects)
• Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage (etiology)
• Hepatic Encephalopathy (etiology, prevention & control)
• Humans
• Hyperammonemia (etiology, prevention & control)
• Intestinal Absorption
• Lactulose (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Liver Cirrhosis (complications, surgery)
• Liver Transplantation
• Meta-Analysis as Topic
• Peritonitis (complications)
• Portasystemic Shunt, Surgical (adverse effects)
• Postoperative Complications (etiology, prevention & control)
• Recurrence
• Rifamycins (administration & dosage, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use)
• Rifaximin
• Risk Factors
• Sugar Alcohols (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)