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What Are The Main Causes, Adverse Effects, And Remedies For Hepatic Encephalopathy?
Question: respected doctor, i need a very urgent answer about "hepatic encelopalpathy". its main causes, its adverse effects,and its cure, remedy etc?????. since my mother is suffering from cirrhosis about 2 years,clinical reports are normal,except creatinine(4.0). albumin is 1.5, now she is admitted in hospital for diarrhea.
Hi,
Thanks for your query.
Hepatic encephalopathy is the occurrence of brain dysfunctions as a result of liver failure
It is caused by accumulation in the bloodstream of toxic substances that are normally removed by the liver. Hepatic encephalopathy is usually associated with acute liver failure. Most of the cases some precipitating factors in a patient of liver disease causes hepatic encephalopathy. Any infection, diarrhoea can precipitate it. This factors are electrolyte imbalance , drugs and medications, infections, Consumption of large amounts of protein, gastrointestinal bleeding , renal failure, constipation etc.
48%-67%Hepatic encephalopathy is reversible with treatment. Treatment mainly consists of elimination or treatment of precipitating factors and suppressing the production of the toxic substances in the intestine and is most commonly done with the laxative (mainly lactulose with non-absorbable antibiotics). Sometimes it may need for a liver transplantation.
In your mother diarrhea has the potential to precipitate Hepatic encephalopathy, so urgent correction of fluid and electrolyte is essential. Let her be admitted in the hospital and get regular monitoring.
A critical care specialist and Gastroenterologist will monitor such cases.
Best Wishes,
Dr Sourav Ganguly
Thanks for your query.
Hepatic encephalopathy is the occurrence of brain dysfunctions as a result of liver failure
It is caused by accumulation in the bloodstream of toxic substances that are normally removed by the liver. Hepatic encephalopathy is usually associated with acute liver failure. Most of the cases some precipitating factors in a patient of liver disease causes hepatic encephalopathy. Any infection, diarrhoea can precipitate it. This factors are electrolyte imbalance , drugs and medications, infections, Consumption of large amounts of protein, gastrointestinal bleeding , renal failure, constipation etc.
48%-67%Hepatic encephalopathy is reversible with treatment. Treatment mainly consists of elimination or treatment of precipitating factors and suppressing the production of the toxic substances in the intestine and is most commonly done with the laxative (mainly lactulose with non-absorbable antibiotics). Sometimes it may need for a liver transplantation.
In your mother diarrhea has the potential to precipitate Hepatic encephalopathy, so urgent correction of fluid and electrolyte is essential. Let her be admitted in the hospital and get regular monitoring.
A critical care specialist and Gastroenterologist will monitor such cases.
Best Wishes,
Dr Sourav Ganguly
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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