Author:
Weissenborn K, et al; Journal of Hepatology 2003; 39(3): 320-5 (September 2003)
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Date Posted: Fri, August 15 2003, 10:41:34 PDT
In reply to:
H. Aaron Aronow,MD Neurology and Internal Medicine USC ..
's message, "Neurological manifestation of HCV" on Sat, May 19 2001, 10:27:06 PDT
Defective memory function in early hepatic encephalopathy
A study in the September issue of The Journal of Hepatology finds that
although patients with early hepatic encephalopathy score lower than
controls in memory tasks, this is predominantly due to deficits in
attention and visual perception.
Early hepatic encephalopathy is characterized by deficits in motor
performance, visual perception, visuo-constructive abilities and attention.
Whether defective memory is a feature of early hepatic encephalopathy
remains controversial.
Dr Karin Weissenborn and colleagues in Hannover, Germany, attempted to
resolve this controversy by analysing memory function in 45 patients with
early hepatic encephalopathy.
Memory tests were applied to cirrhotic patients with minimal, grade 0, or
grade 1 hepatic encephalopathy and the results were compared with those
seen in 52 control subjects.
Tasks included short and long term memory tests requiring free recall or
recognition.
Patients' deficits were in attention and visual perception, rather than
memory.
Patients with early hepatic encephalopathy scored lower than the controls
in all of the memory tasks.
Dr Weissenborn's team conducted a detailed analysis of test performance,
which revealed that the patients' deficits were in attention and visual
perception, rather than memory.
Dr Weissenborn concludes "Although patients with early hepatic
encephalopathy score lower than controls in memory tasks, this is
predominantly because of deficits in attention and visual perception."
Journal of Hepatology 2003; 39(3): 320-5
15 August 2003
www.hcop.org
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