Researchers reviewed diagnostic tools and management strategies for hepatic encephalopathy (HE), noting HE as a significant burden for patients and their caregivers, negatively impacting quality of life and increasing mortality rates. The main treatment for HE involves using nonabsorbable disaccharides like lactulose and rifaximin; however, this review also discusses experimental therapies. The researchers concluded that there is a need for better tools to predict which patients will develop HE, and microbiome and metabolomic-driven approaches show promise.
Reference: Badal BD, Bajaj JS. Hepatic Encephalopathy: Diagnostic Tools and Management Strategies. Med Clin North Am. 2023 May;107(3):517-531. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2023.01.003. Epub 2023 Feb 20. PMID: 37001951.
