Differential Diagnosis for Hepatic Encephalopathy
Distinguishing hepatic encephalopathy from other acute and chronic causes of altered mental status may be difficult in patients with cirrhosis. A decision to perform additional neurologic studies should be based on the severity of the patient's mental dysfunction, the presence of focal neurologic findings (observed infrequently in patients with hepatic encephalopathy), and the patient's responsiveness to an empiric trial with cathartic agents. Even patients with severe hepatic encephalopathy should demonstrate steady improvement in mental dysfunction after an initiation of treatment with lactulose.
Diagnostic Criteria for MHE