PSYCHOMETRIC HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY SCORE FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF MINIMAL HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY IN ROMANIAN CIRRHOTIC PATIENTS - PARTIAL RESULTS

Authors

  • M.A. BADEA University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”- Iasi
  • Cristina CIJEVSCHI-PRELIPCEAN University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”- Iasi
  • Catalina MIHAI University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”- Iasi
  • Iolanda POPA University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”- Iasi
  • V.L. DRUG University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”- Iasi

Abstract

In Romania, minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is underdiagnosed and undertreated in patients with liver cirrhosis. The psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES) is recommended as the first-line tool for the diagnosis of MHE. Aim: To use PHES in a group of Romanian cirrhotic patients and highlight the relationships between demographic and biological factors and tests results. Materials and Methods:  Of the 148 patients with liver cirrhosis admitted to the Iaşi Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology between August 2014 and February 2015 only 80 who met the eligibility criteria were enrolled and completed the study. Blood samples for routine tests and serum ammonia were collected from all patients on the day of PHES evaluation. Results: In the study group (n = 80) mean age was 57.7 ± 8.5 years, and the average number of years of education was 11.2 ± 2.7. The main causes of cirrhosis were alcohol consumption (31 patients - 38.8%), hepatitis C virus infection (29 patients - 36.3%) and hepatitis B virus infection (17 patients - 21.3%). Age, number of years of education, severity of liver disease (measured by using Child-Pugh and MELD scores) and some biological constants (albumin, bilirubin, International Normalized Ratio- INR) were significantly correlated (p <0.05) with most psychometric tests. Conclusions: PHES is a practical, objective and useful method for the diagnosis of MHE. Demographic and biological factors correlated with the results of the psychometric test. The PHES requires standardization before applying it in Romanian cirrhotic patients.

Author Biographies

  • M.A. BADEA, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”- Iasi

    Faculty of Medicine
    Department of Medical Specialties (I)
    Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Iasi

  • Cristina CIJEVSCHI-PRELIPCEAN, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”- Iasi

    Faculty of Medicine
    Department of Medical Specialties (I)
    Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Iasi

  • Catalina MIHAI, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”- Iasi

    Faculty of Medicine
    Department of Medical Specialties (I)
    Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Iasi

  • Iolanda POPA, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”- Iasi

    Faculty of Medicine
    Department of Medical Specialties (I)
    Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Iasi

  • V.L. DRUG, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”- Iasi

    Faculty of Medicine
    Department of Medical Specialties (I)
    Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Iasi

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Additional Files

Published

2015-06-30

Issue

Vol. 119 No. 2 (2015): The Medical-Surgical Journal

Section

INTERNAL MEDICINE - PEDIATRICS

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