Frequency of minimal hepatic encepalopathy inilleterate patients with compensated cirrhosis

Abstract

Objective: To determine frequency of Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy in illiterate patients with compensated cirrhosis.

Methods: Illiterate patients with compensated cirrhosis with F4 Score on Shear-wave Elastography were selected for study after informed consent. Sample size was estimated at 106. Selected patients were subjected to two tests for detection of MHE, Number Connection Test A and Block Design Test. Patients taking ? 30 seconds were labelled as Positive for MHE.

Result: Out of 110 selected patients 10.9% were alcoholics and in 8.2% of patients no hepatic virus infection was detected. HCV was positive in 48.2% patients while HBV was positive in 13.6% of patients. MHE was detected in 72 (65.5%) of patients. Major differences were found in MHE Stage II & III by two tests. Over all BDT detected more cases and gave higher Staging in Stage II & III as compared to NCT-A test.

Conclusion: Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy (MHE) could be detected in illiterate patients using NCT-A and BDT Tests.

doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.12669/pjms.323.9655

How to cite this:Zuberi BF, Alvi H, Zuberi FF, Rasheed T, Nawaz Z, Fatima-tuz-Zohra. Frequency of minimal hepatic encepalopathy in illeterate patients with compensated cirrhosis. Pak J Med Sci. 2016;32(3):595-598.