8 Review article Hepatic encephalopathy: from pathophysiology to therapeutic management Michael Bismutha, Natalie Funakoshia, Jean-Franc¸ois Cadranelb and Pierre Blanca Hepatic encephalopathy is a complex and potentially 23:8–22 c 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott reversible neuropsychiatric syndrome complicating acute Williams & Wilkins. or chronic liver disease. Clinical manifestations are multiple European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology 2011, 23:8–22 and varied, ranging from minimal neurological changes to coma. Ammonia is the main toxic substance involved in the Keywords: cirrhosis, hepatic encephalopathy, portal hypertension portosystemic shunt pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy, although other a b mechanisms, such as modifications of the blood–brain He´pato-gastroente´rologie B, Hoˆ pital Saint Eloi, Montpellier Cedex and Service d’He´pato-Gastroente´rologie et de Nutrition, CHG Lae¨nnec, Boulevard Lae¨nnec, barrier, disruptions in neurotransmission and abnormalities Creil, France in GABAergic and benzodiazepine pathways may also play Correspondence to Pierre Blanc, MD, PhD, He´pato-gastroente´rologie B, Hoˆpital a role. The identification and treatment of precipitating Saint Eloi, CHU Montpellier, 80 Avenue Augustin Fliche, Montpellier 34295 Cedex 5, France factors is crucial in the management of patients with Tel: + 33 467337063; fax: + 33 467337575; e-mail:
[email protected] hepatic encephalopathy. Current treatments are based Michael Bismuth and Natalie Funakoshi contributed equally to the writing of this on reducing intestinal ammonia load by agents such as article antibiotics or disaccharides, although their efficacy is yet Received 25 May 2010 Accepted 12 October 2010 to be clearly established. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol Introduction Ammonia, which is produced in the colon by intestinal Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a complex and poten- bacteria, is the principal toxic substance involved in the tially reversible neuropsychiatric syndrome characterized pathogenesis of HE.