A study of clinical profile of the patients with acute hepatic encephalopathy in a tertiary health care centre

 

Manjiri Ravindra Kulkarni

 

Abstract              Background: liver cirrhosis is one of the debilitating conditions in liver diseases. Acute hepatic encephalopathy is affecting neurological and psychiatric conditions of the patients with liver disease. Hepatic encephalopathy can be reversible with treatment reducing the mortality rate. Aim and objective: To study the clinical of the patients with acute hepatic encephalopathy in a tertiary health care centre Methodology: An observational study was done on 100 patients with Acute hepatic Encephalopathy. Data collected with pre tested questionnaire. Sociodemographic data, clinical history and detailed clinical examination was done. All required investigations carried out. Patients were followed upto discharge from hospital. Clinical features, precipitating factors and outcome was analysed with appropriate statistical tests.  Results and discussion: Mean age of the patient was 38 ± 2 years. Male to female ratio was 2.7:1. Jaundice,ascites, anaemia, upper GI bleed and splenomegaly were common clinical features in all patients. Common precipitating factors were Upper GI bleed (30%), fever indicating infection (42%) and constipation (35%). In our study alcoholic liver disease was most common etiological factor (43%). Hepatitis B infection was seen in 33% and Hepatitis C infection in 12% patients. Factors affecting mortality in hepatic encephalopathy were Male sex, alcohol intake, Child-Pugh Class C, Grade III and IV hepatic encephalothy and infections like Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.

Key Word: acute hepatic encephalopathy.