@article{10.37349/edd.2025.100582,
abstract = {Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is often the least recognized form of hepatic encephalopathy, affecting up to 80% of people living with liver cirrhosis. While the signs can be quite subtle, MHE can seriously disrupt cognitive functions such as attention and memory. This disruption can impact daily life, potentially leading to an increased risk of accidents. Unfortunately, many health care providers might overlook the diagnosis because the symptoms can be vague, and identifying MHE usually requires specific tests like the psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES). Several factors contribute to MHE, including elevated ammonia levels, systemic inflammation, and issues with the gut-brain connection. It’s crucial to identify and treat MHE quickly, as it can progress to overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE), which presents much more severe symptoms and is associated with higher mortality rates. Current treatment approaches often include medications like lactulose and rifaximin, along with cognitive rehabilitation and dietary changes. Emerging treatments that focus on gut health, such as probiotics, are showing potential in helping to lower ammonia levels. This review brings together the latest research on MHE, pointing out significant gaps in how we diagnose it and the potential of new therapies like synbiotics. By looking at recent multicenter studies, we aim to offer practical insights that could help prevent the progression to OHE, ultimately improving patient outcomes.},
author = {Ghaemi, Mahtab},
doi = {10.37349/edd.2025.100582},
journal = {Exploration of Digestive Diseases},
elocation-id = {100582},
title = {Minimal hepatic encephalopathy: a hidden threat to quality of life in cirrhosis patients},
url = {https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/edd/Article/100582},
volume = {4},
year = {2025}
}