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Query: UMLS:C0085584 (encephalopathy)
 18,178 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The accumulation of false neurotransmitters such as octopamine and depletion of true neurotransmitters such as dopamine have been purported to play a pathogenetic role in portal systemic encephalopathy (PSE). Therefore, we measured plasma prolactin, a known sensitive indicator of functional dopamine activity in man, in an attempt to evaluate dopaminergic function in 21 patients with alcoholic liver disease and PSE and several control groups. Subjects with PSE had markedly elevated prolactin levels (P less than 0.01) when compared to all control groups. Moreover, patients with PSE were divisible into two groups, 12 having mildly increased prolactin levels and 9 having markedly elevated levels. Although the degree of PSE was similar in both groups, those PSE patients with the higher prolactin values had significantly greater derangement of serum albumin, bilirubin, prothrombin time, and also had a higher mortality (100%). These data: (1) provide evidence consistent with the hypothesis of altered neurotransmitter function in individuals with chronic alcoholic liver disease, particularly those manifesting evidence of PSE; (2) suggest that altered dopamine function in chronic liver disease may have pathophysiologic significance as judged by altered hormone release; (3) demonstrate that a markedly elevated plasma prolactin level in individuals with PSE carries an ominous prognosis; and (4) suggest a possible role for the plasma prolactin in the selection and monitoring of PSE patients who are to be treated with agents aimed at correcting neurotransmitter abnormalities.
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PMID:Hyperprolactinemia in portal systemic encephalopathy. 723 64

Psychometric tests were administered to 36 alcoholic patients with cirrhosis without overt portal systemic encephalopathy and to 32 alcoholics without liver diseases. Verbal ability was preserved in both groups. The cirrhotic patients scored worse than the alcoholics without liver disease on most of the tests of psychomotor performance. Based on the three most discriminative tests, 50% of the cirrhotic patients had one or more scores that were more abnormal than those of any member of the alcoholic group. Significant correlations were found between the severity of liver disease and most tests of performance in the cirrhotic group, due primarily to the influence of serum albumin as a component of the severity index. We conclude that psychomotor tests are sensitive tools for the detection of latent encephalopathy, and that nutritional status probably plays a role in determining test performance.
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PMID:Psychomotor performance defects in cirrhotic patients without overt encephalopathy. 736 83

As identification of patients with liver cirrhosis who are at risk of bleeding or death is essential in terms of prophylaxis, we have determined the prognostic influence of various patient characteristics on risk of bleeding and death. Fifty-five cirrhotic patients with oesophageal varices without previous bleeding were included in the study and followed up after a medium observation period of 446 days (range:5-1211 days). A total of 55 clinical, biochemical, haemodynamic, and endoscopic variables were classified as either systemic haemodynamic, portal haemodynamic, or metabolic. Using univariate analysis the following variables showed a significant relation to an increased risk of bleeding or death: high plasma volume (p < 0.02), high azygos blood flow (p < 0.004), high hepatic venous pressure gradient (p < 0.02), marked prominence of varices (p < 0.05), poor nutritional status (p < 0.0001), low clotting factor 2, 7, 10 (p < 0.002), low incapacitation index (p < 0.004), low serum albumin (p < 0.005), high bilirubin (p = 0.05), high alkaline phosphatases (p < 0.02), low arterial oxygen saturation (p = 0.02), and encephalopathy (p < 0.007). In a Cox regression model poor nutritional status (p < 0.00005), serum bilirubin (p < 0.001), short central circulation time (p < 0.03), low serum albumin (p < 0.02), and low index of clotting factor 2, 7, 10 (p < 0.05) were independently associated with higher risk. In conclusion, the results support the prognostic value of metabolic variables as earlier described. The prognostic significance of central circulation time stresses the importance of the hyperdynamic systemic circulation in the increased risk.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:[Prediction of bleeding risks and death in cirrhosis based on hemodynamic and metabolic variables. A study of patients with esophageal varices without previous bleeding]. 748 52

As identification of patients at risk of bleeding or death is essential for prophylaxis, we determined the prognostic influence of various patient characteristics on the risk of bleeding and death. Fifty-five patients with cirrhosis and oesophageal varices without previous bleeding were included in the study and followed up after an average observation period of 446 days (range: 5-1211 days). A total of 55 clinical, biochemical, haemodynamic, and endoscopic variables were classified as systemic haemodynamic, portal haemodynamic, or metabolic. Using univariate analysis, the following variables showed a significant relation with an increased risk of bleeding or death: high plasma volume (p < 0.02), high azygos blood flow (p < 0.004), elevated hepatic venous pressure gradient (p < 0.02), marked prominence of varices (p < 0.05), poor nutritional status (p < 0.0001), decreased clotting factor 2,7,10 (p < 0.002), poor incapacitation index (p < 0.004), low serum albumin (p < 0.005), increased serum bilirubin (p = 0.05), elevated alkaline phosphatases (p < 0.02), low arterial oxygen saturation (p = 0.02), and encephalopathy (p < 0.007). In a Cox regression model, poor nutritional status (p < 0.00005), increased serum bilirubin (p < 0.001), short central circulation time (p < 0.03), low serum albumin (p < 0.02), and decreased clotting factor 2, 7, 10 (p < 0.05) were independently associated with a higher risk. In conclusion, the results support the prognostic value of metabolic variables as described earlier. The prognostic significance of central circulation time stresses the importance of the hyperdynamic systemic circulation in assessing the increased risk of bleeding or death.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Prognostic variables in patients with cirrhosis and oesophageal varices without prior bleeding. 769 57

We compared the etiology and prognosis of liver cirrhosis in patients age 60 and older with that of patients under age 60 during the 1980s (1981-89, n = 207). Non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANB) was significantly more prevalent in the elderly (p < 0.05), and the mean age of NANB and alcoholic cirrhosis (Alc) were significantly older than those with hepatitis B virus (HBV) (p < 0.05). Evaluation using hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody also revealed significantly higher mean age of HCV (p < 0.05). Male patient was predominant in the younger patients than in the elderly patients. (M/F = 2.94 and 1.33, respectively) The estimated 5-year survival rate was 73.1% in the younger patients and 60.2% in the elderly patients (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that male sex, a lower serum albumin level, and the presence of the encephalopathy were significantly associated with poor prognosis in the elderly, while a lower serum cholinesterase level and a higher indocyanin green retention rate at 15 minutes (ICGR15) were significantly associated with poor prognosis in younger patients. However, causes of deaths were not significantly different between the younger patients and the elderly patients, the proportion of deaths unrelated to liver disease predominated in the elderly patients. Thus, the etiology and the prognostic factors of liver cirrhosis in elderly patients differ from those in younger patients.
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PMID:Etiology and prognosis of liver cirrhosis in elderly patients. 856 28

A prospective study in thirty one patients with ascites, who were hospitalized at Cayetano Heredia National Hospital (H.N.C.H.), to investigate the association between the high serum-to-ascites albumin concentration gradient (high GRAD-Alb) with the degree and development of oesophageal varices, studied by endoscopy, is here reported. It was also studied its relationship with the degree of impairment of liver function, determined by the Child-Pugh's score. In addition our series found that the degree of high GRAD-Alb could discriminate patients with oesophageal varices finding like a signal of its presence a value of high GRAD-Alb greater than 1.435 +/- 0.015 g/dl. It is here demonstrated that the degree of high GRAD-Alb does not have any relationship with the degree of impairment of liver function (Child-Pugh's score), prothrombine time, serum bilirrubin, degree of encephalopathy neither grade of ascites; however, we found a light association and correlation with serum albumin.
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PMID:[Endoscopic and clinical parameters in assessing th degree of portal hypertension: the value of the serum-ascitic fluid albumin gradient]. 866 82

To evaluate the efficacy of low dose megestrol on malnourished dialysis patients we treated 16 dialysis patients with persistent hypoalbuminemia ( < 3.5 gm/dl for 2 consecutive months) and adequate dialysis at a dose of 20 mg orally twice daily. Twelve patients on peritoneal dialysis and 4 on hemodialysis were followed for 4.3 +/- 0.6 m (2-11 m). Within one month serum albumin rose from 2.7 +/- 0.1 to 3.0 +/- 0.2 gm/dl (p < 0.05) and remained elevated at the end of follow-up (3.1 +/- 0.2, p < 0.05 vs. pre-treatment levels). In the 12 responders (increase of albumin > 0.3 gm/dl), all of whom reported improved appetite, the maximal increase of serum albumin in 2 months was 0.8 +/- 0.1 gm/dl (range: 0.3-1.2). Four patients did not respond (change of albumin: -0.05 +/- 0.18, range: -0.6-0.2) because of encephalopathy, amyloidosis, depression or noncompliance. One patient stopped megestrol because of vaginal bleeding from uterine leiomyoma. Three patients died from causes unrelated to the megestrol. Our preliminary study suggests that low dose megestrol (40 mg per day) increases serum albumin levels in 75% of dialysis patients with malnutrition. It is well tolerated but may cause vaginal bleeding from uterine tumors.
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PMID:Low dose megestrol increases serum albumin in malnourished dialysis patients. 867 57

We studied the outcome of 436 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) or primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) who underwent orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) at three major liver transplant centers. Univariate predictors of outcome included age, Karnofsky score, Child's class, Mayo risk score, United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) status, nutritional status, serum albumin, serum bilirubin, international normalized ratio, and the presence of ascites, encephalopathy, renal failure (serum creatinine > 2 mg/dL), and edema refractory to diuretics. Using these predictors, we developed a four variable mathematical prognostic model to help the liver transplant physician predict the following: 1) the amount of intraoperative blood loss; 2) the number of days in the intensive care unit (ICU); and 3) severe complications after surgery. The model uses age, renal failure, Child's class, and United Network for Organ Sharing status. This study is the first to model the outcome of liver transplant in patients with a specific etiology of chronic liver disease (PBC or PSC). The model may be used to help select patients for OLT and to plan the timing of their transplantation.
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PMID:A prognostic model for the outcome of liver transplantation in patients with cholestatic liver disease. 904 17

Sixty-three newborns aged 4 +/- 1 days with hypoconjugation icterus and bilirubinemia of 313 to 524 mumoles/liter, prematurity of the I-II degree, birth injuries to the CNS, hypothyrosis, maternal diabetes mellitus, and threatened encephalopathy were examined. All patients were divided in 2 identical groups: controls (n = 30) and main (n = 33). The only difference was addition of HBO sessions to the basic complex of intensive care. In contrast to the controls, in the main group the level of indirect bilirubin was decreased 40% more intensively, the conjugation function of the liver for direct bilirubin was reliably improved by days 3-4 of therapy, by day 5 the enzymatic function of the liver was reliably normalized, mixed acidosis was arrested during the first day of treatment in more than 90% of patients, adequate glycemia and serum albumin concentrations were attained sooner, and the need in extracorporeal detoxication decreased.
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PMID:[Hyperbaric oxygenation in the intensive therapy of hypoconjugation neonatal jaundice]. 938 21

Cirrhosis of the liver results from a variety of mechanisms that cause progressive hepatic injury. It is the sixth leading cause of death in all patients between the ages of 35 and 55. This study attempts to correlate the morbidity and mortality of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in liver failure patients to numerous etiologic and clinical variables. A retrospective review of 26 patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis associated with chronic liver disease was performed in a university hospital. Demographics (age and gender), clinical variables (etiology of liver failure, Child's classification, prior history of ascites, fever, abdominal pain, encephalopathy, and upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage), and laboratory variables (ascitic polymorphonuclearcyte count and cultures, serum albumin, bilirubin, creatinine, and prothrombin time) were studied. All of the patients had Child's C liver disease. Mortality rate was 46 per cent. Alcohol (46%) and hepatitis (30%) were the most common etiologies. Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the most common culture isolates. All of the infections were monomicrobial. The only significant predictor of mortality (P < 0.05) in this study was the peritoneal fluid polymorphonuclear (PMN) cell count. PMN count >1000 PMN/mm3 was associated with a mortality of 88 per cent. Few patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis are ultimately transplanted.
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PMID:Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in liver failure. 984 34


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