Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy
Conditions
Brief summary
This study included 20 patients listed for liver transplantation in addition to 20 age- and sex- matched controls. Neurological, psychiatric, laboratory and radiological examinations were performed for both patients and controls before and 6 months after liver transplantation. Assessment of cognitive functions by Trail Making Test A (TMT A), TMT B, Digit Symbol Test (DST), and Serial Dotting Test (SDT) was done before and after liver transplantation.
Interventions
PROCEDURELiver transplantation
Sponsors
Ain Shams University
Study design
Observational model
CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 55 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Right handed patients with biopsy-proven liver cirrhosis listed for liver transplantation
Exclusion criteria
* Overt hepatic encephalopathy. * Significant cortical atrophy or other structural brain changes revealed by conventional neuro-imaging. * Regular use of psychotropic drugs, such as benzodiazepines. * Known major psychiatric disorder. * Less than 6 months of complete alcohol abstinence. * Post-transplant toxic levels of immunosuppressive drugs. * Patients unable to perform the tests (Illiterate or upper limb motor handicaps).
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Improvement of Psychometric tests. | 6 months following liver transplantation. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Improvement of liver functions and MELD score following liver transplantation. | 6 months following liver transplantation. |
Outcome results
None listed