Current and emerging strategies for treating hepatic encephalopathy.

Sonia Lin, Keith J Foster, Charles J Turck

Journal: Critical care nursing clinics of North America 2010;22(3):341-50

PMID: 20691385

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is caused by liver impairment and has a multitude of symptoms in affected patients, including change in level of consciousness, intellectual function, and neuromuscular function. Pharmacologic therapy includes use of nonabsorbable disaccharides (lactulose and lactitol), and antibiotics such as neomycin, paromycin, metronidazole, and rifaximin. Probiotics, acarbose, and drugs such as L-carnitine and flumazenil, may also be helpful in treating HE.

Address: Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pharmacy, UMass Memorial Medical Center, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2010.04.007

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MeSH Terms: Acarbose, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Carnitine, Dyskinesias, Electroencephalography, Flumazenil, GABA Modulators, Gastrointestinal Agents, Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage, Hepatic Encephalopathy, Humans, Hyperammonemia, Lactulose, Probiotics, Risk Factors