Reversibility of Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy Following Liver Transplantation

Ain Shams University40 enrolled

Overview

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.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

Conditions

Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy

Interventions

Liver transplantationPROCEDURE

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 55 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

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).

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Improvement of Psychometric tests.

Time frame: 6 months following liver transplantation.

Secondary Outcomes

Improvement of liver functions and MELD score following liver transplantation.

Time frame: 6 months following liver transplantation.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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