Objective: To identify the predisposing factors, clinical characteristics, and risk factors of disease progression to establish a novel predictive survival model and evaluate its application value for hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure. Methods: 153 cases of HBV-ACLF were selected according to the guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of liver failure (2018 edition) of the Chinese Medical Association Hepatology Branch. Predisposing factors, the basic liver disease stage, therapeutic drugs, clinical characteristics, and factors affecting survival status were analyzed. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to screen prognostic factors and establish a novel predictive survival model. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to evaluate predictive value with the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) and the Chronic Liver Failure Consortium Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure score (CLIF-C ACLF). Results: 80.39% (123/153) based on hepatitis B cirrhosis had developed ACLF. HBV-ACLF's main inducing factors were the discontinuation of nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) and the application of hepatotoxic drugs, including Chinese patent medicine/Chinese herbal medicine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-tuberculosis drugs, central nervous system drugs, anti-tumor drugs, etc. 34.64% of cases had an unknown inducement. The most common clinical symptoms at onset were progressive jaundice, poor appetite, and fatigue. The short-term mortality rate was significantly higher in patients complicated with hepatic encephalopathy, upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, hepatorenal syndrome, and infection (P < 0.05). Lactate dehydrogenase, albumin, the international normalized ratio, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, hepatic encephalopathy, and upper gastrointestinal bleeding were the independent predictors for the survival status of patients. The LAINeu model was established. The area under the curve for evaluating the survival of HBV-ACLF was 0.886, which was significantly higher than the MELD and CLIF-C ACLF scores (P < 0.05), and the prognosis was worse when the LAINeu score ≥ -3.75. Conclusion: Discontinuation of NAs and the application of hepatotoxic drugs are common predisposing factors for HBV-ACLF. Hepatic decompensation-related complications and infection accelerate the disease's progression. The LAINeu model can predict patient survival conditions more accurately.
Humans ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatic Encephalopathy/complications* ; Acute-On-Chronic Liver Failure/diagnosis* ; End Stage Liver Disease/complications* ; Severity of Illness Index ; Risk Factors ; ROC Curve ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a common serious complication of liver cirrhosis, with sudden onset, indicating a poor prognosis in patients with chronic liver disease. Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is an early stage of HE with no apparent symptoms, but it shows abnormal results in neuropsychological and/or neurophysiological tests. MHE affects patients' quality of life, employability, driving ability, and has a high risk of developing overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE). This article aims to explore various diagnostic methods, strengthen the routine work of clinicians in diagnosis and treatment, and develop an effective MHE screening protocol.
Hepatic Encephalopathy/diagnosis* ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis/diagnosis* ; Liver Diseases ; Mass Screening ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Psychometrics ; Quality of Life

Liver cirrhosis patients are suffering from many complications, which are directly related to a poor prognosis. Although there have been many recent advances in diagnosis and treatment for varix and hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhotic patients, the standard practice for these conditions should consider the different medical resources and etiology of these liver diseases among various countries. The Korean Association for the Study of the Liver published in 2005 a clinical practice guideline for the treatment of cirrhosis complications, and this year, they revised the guideline for treating gastroesophageal varices and hepatic encephalopathy. This review summarizes the revised practice guideline and emphasizes the updated recommendation.
Diagnosis ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Fibrosis ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Diseases ; Liver ; Prognosis ; Varicose Veins

Liver cirrhosis patients are suffering from many complications, which are directly related to a poor prognosis. Although there have been many recent advances in diagnosis and treatment for varix and hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhotic patients, the standard practice for these conditions should consider the different medical resources and etiology of these liver diseases among various countries. The Korean Association for the Study of the Liver published in 2005 a clinical practice guideline for the treatment of cirrhosis complications, and this year, they revised the guideline for treating gastroesophageal varices and hepatic encephalopathy. This review summarizes the revised practice guideline and emphasizes the updated recommendation.
Diagnosis ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Fibrosis ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Diseases ; Liver ; Prognosis ; Varicose Veins

The aim of this study was to validate a new paper and pencil test battery to diagnose minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) in Korea. A new paper and pencil test battery was composed of number connection test-A (NCT-A), number connection test-B (NCT-B), digit span test (DST), and symbol digit modality test (SDMT). The norm of the new test was based on 315 healthy individuals between the ages of 20 and 70 years old. Another 63 healthy subjects (n = 31) and cirrhosis patients (n = 32) were included as a validation cohort. All participants completed the new paper and pencil test, a critical flicker frequency (CFF) test and computerized cognitive function test (visual continuous performance test [CPT]). The scores on the NCT-A and NCT-B increased but those of DST and SDMT decreased according to age. Twelve of the cirrhotic patients (37.5%) were diagnosed with MHE based on the new paper and pencil test battery. The total score of the paper and pencil test battery showed good positive correlation with the CFF (r = 0.551, P < 0.001) and computerized cognitive function test. Also, this score was lower in patients with MHE compared to those without MHE (P < 0.001). Scores on the CFF (32.0 vs. 28.7 Hz, P = 0.028) and the computer base cognitive test decreased significantly in patients with MHE compared to those without MHE. Test-retest reliability was comparable. In conclusion, the new paper and pencil test battery including NCT-A, NCT-B, DST, and SDMT showed good correlation with neuropsychological tests. This new paper and pencil test battery could help to discriminate patients with impaired cognitive function in cirrhosis (registered at Clinical Research Information Service [CRIS], https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris, KCT0000955).
Cognition ; Cohort Studies ; Diagnosis* ; Fibrosis ; Healthy Volunteers ; Hepatic Encephalopathy* ; Humans ; Information Services ; Korea* ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Reproducibility of Results

Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) is often accompanied by a myriad of neurologic complications, which are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Although appropriate neuromonitoring is recommended for early diagnosis and to minimize secondary brain injury, individuals with FHF usually have a high chance of coagulopathy, which limits the ability to use invasive neuromonitoring. Jugular bulb venous oxygen saturation (JvO₂) monitoring is well known as a surrogate direct measures of global brain oxygen use. We report the case of a patient with increased intracranial pressure due to FHF, in which JvO₂ was used for appropriate brain oxygen monitoring.
Brain Edema ; Brain Injuries ; Brain* ; Early Diagnosis ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; Humans ; Intracranial Pressure ; Jugular Veins ; Liver Failure, Acute* ; Mortality ; Oxygen Consumption ; Oxygen*

Hepatic encephalopathy is a spectrum of neurocognitive manifestations often seen in patients with liver injury or rarely in patients with portosystemic shunting without liver injury. It can be divided into minimal (covert) hepatic encephalopathy and overt hepatic encephalopathy, depending on the severity. Patients with hepatic encephalopathy have compromised clinical outcomes, decreased quality of life, and increased healthcare utilization, often resulting in a heavy financial and personal burden on caregivers. The diagnosis remains largely clinical, with the exclusion of possible other causes for the altered mental status. Current treatment strategies include nonabsorbable disaccharides and antibiotics. This review will focus on the diagnosis, management and clinical impact of hepatic encephalopathy.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Caregivers ; Delivery of Health Care ; Diagnosis ; Disaccharides ; Hepatic Encephalopathy* ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Diseases ; Portasystemic Shunt, Surgical ; Quality of Life

OBJECTIVE: Parkinsonism and other movement disorders have previously been reported in the acquired hepatocerebral degeneration associated with portosystemic shunting. However, there is no study to date about their prevalence as has been noted in general practice. METHODS: One hundred and forty-three patients with hepatic cirrhosis from the gastroenterology clinic and internal medicine wards were enrolled. Liver data included the diagnoses, etiologies, assessments of complications, and treatments for cirrhosis. Hepatic encephalopathy was classified with regard to the West Haven criteria for semi-quantitative grading for mental status. Neurological examination results and abnormal involuntary movements were recorded as primary outcomes. Neuro-radiology was used for the detection of severe brain lesions. RESULTS: Alcoholism was the most common cause of liver cirrhosis. Eighty-three patients (58%) presented with movement disorders. Asterixis was found in one of the cases. The most common movement disorder seen was an intentional tremor at 37.1%, which was followed by bradykinesia, Parkinsonism, and postural tremors at 29.4%, 10.5%, and 6.3%, respectively. The prevalence of movement disorders simultaneously increased with a high Child-Turcotte-Pugh score. The hepatic encephalopathy was grade 1 and 2. With the inclusion of age-range adjustments, we found that alcoholic cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy are statistically significant factors [p < 0.05, odds ratio (OR) = 6.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.38-29.71 and p < 0.001, OR = 13.65, 95% CI 4.71-39.54] for the development of movement disorders in non-Wilsonian cirrhotic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Intentional tremor is a common abnormal movement. Alcoholic cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy are significant risk factors in the development of movement disorders in non-Wilsonian cirrhotic patients.
Alcoholism ; Brain ; Diagnosis ; Dyskinesias ; Fibrosis ; Gastroenterology ; General Practice ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; Hepatolenticular Degeneration ; Humans ; Hypokinesia ; Internal Medicine ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic ; Movement Disorders* ; Neurologic Examination ; Odds Ratio ; Parkinsonian Disorders ; Portasystemic Shunt, Surgical ; Prevalence* ; Risk Factors* ; Schools, Medical* ; Tremor

PURPOSE: In patients with altered mentality caused by drugs or unknown causes, ammonia is checked to facilitate differential diagnosis or diagnose hepatic coma. This helps early prevention and treatment of brain damage due to hyperammonemia. This study was conducted to evaluate clinical characteristics of intoxicated adult patients with hyperammonemia. METHODS: We evaluated 95 patients with hyperammonemia among intoxicated patients above the age of 15 who visited our ED from January 2013 to December 2015. We analyzed the demographic characteristics and type of poisoning substance, reason for ingestion, toxicological characteristics such as elapsed time from ingestion to hospital visit, lab, clinical progression and complications. Data were evaluated using the student's t test or Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables, and Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test for frequency analysis of categorical variables. RESULTS: When compared to healthy individuals, patients with hyperammonemia showed statistical significance on their SOFA score (p=0.016) and poison severity score (p<0.001). Additionally, patients with hyperammonemia showed significantly different initial serum AST level (p=0.012) and maximum serum AST level during the hospital stay (p=0.026) when compared to healthy individuals. Moreover, individuals with sustained hyperammonemia compared to transient hyperammonemia showed clinically significant SOFA scores (p<0.001), poison severity scores (p=0.007), mortality rates in the ICU (p=0.021), as well as different duration of hospital stay (p=0.037), serum creatinine level (p=0.002), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p=0.025), and serum myoglobin (p=0.015). CONCLUSION: Most poisoning-induced hyperammonemia cases were transient and recovered without special treatment. Therefore, hyperammonemia is almost non-specific among poisoning patients.
Adult ; Ammonia ; Blood Sedimentation ; Brain ; Creatinine ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Eating ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; Humans ; Hyperammonemia* ; Length of Stay ; Mortality ; Myoglobin ; Poisoning

BACKGROUNDBalanced adjustment of the portal vein shunt volume during a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is critical for maintaining liver perfusion and decreasing the incidence of liver insufficiency. A stent-graft is proved to be superior to a bare metal stent (BMS) for the construction of a TIPS. However, the clinical results of the combination application of stents and stent-grafts have not been determined. This study aimed to compare the technique of using a combination of stents and stent-grafts with using a single stent-graft to construct a TIPS.

METHODSFrom April 2011 to November 2014, a total of fifty patients were randomly assigned to a stents-combination group (Group I, n = 28) or a stent-graft group (Group II, n = 22). Primary patency rates were calculated. Clinical data, including the technical success rate, bleeding control results, incidence of encephalopathy, liver function preservation, and survival rate, were assessed.

RESULTSTechnically, the success rate was 100% for both groups. The primary patency rates at 1, 2, and 3 years for Group I were 96%, 84%, and 77%, respectively; for Group II, they were 90%, 90%, and 78%, respectively. The survival rates at 1, 2, and 3 years for Group I were 79%, 74%, and 68%, respectively; for Group II, they were 82%, 82%, and 74%, respectively. The incidence of hepatic encephalopathy was 14.3% for Group I and 13.6% for Group II. The Child-Pugh score in Group I was stable at the end of the follow-up but had significantly increased in Group II (t = -2.474, P = 0.022).

CONCLUSIONSThe construction of a TIPS with either the single stent-graft or BMS/stent-graft combination is effective for controlling variceal bleeding. The BMS/stent-graft combination technique is superior to the stent-graft technique in terms of hepatic function preservation indicated by the Child-Pugh score. However, considering the clinical results of the TIPS, the two techniques are comparable in their primary shunt patency, incidence of encephalopathy and patient survival during the long-term follow-up.

Aged ; Female ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; complications ; mortality ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Portal Vein ; surgery ; Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic ; adverse effects ; methods ; Postoperative Complications ; Prospective Studies ; Stents ; Treatment Outcome