A functional and/or structural disorder of the brain caused by diseases (e.g. liver disease, kidney disease), medications, chemicals, and injuries.
Symptoms of Encephalopathy
The following features are indicative of Encephalopathy:
forgetfulness
mild confusion
irritability
cerebral oedema
It is possible that Encephalopathy shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.
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Common Causes of Encephalopathy
The following are the most common causes of Encephalopathy:
liver failure
consumption of large amounts of protein
gastrointestinal bleeding
constipation
hyponatraemia
hypokalaemia
increased bilirubin levels
infections of the liver from virus
gallbladder disorders
anaemia
Other Causes of Encephalopathy
The following are the less common causes of Encephalopathy:
alkalosis
hypoxia
dehydration
use of sedatives such as benzodiazepines
Risk Factors for Encephalopathy
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Encephalopathy:
older age
female
liver disease due to causes other than alcohol
premature birth
polycythemia
Gilbert's syndrome
G6PD deficiency
bruising
Prevention of Encephalopathy
Yes, it may be possible to prevent Encephalopathy. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
do not drink alcohol
eat a healthy diet
maintain a healthy weight
do not share needles
do not have unprotected sex which can increase the risk of hepatitis
ask the doctor for hepatitis vaccinations
Occurrence of Encephalopathy
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Encephalopathy cases seen each year worldwide:
Very common > 10 Million cases
Common Age Group
Encephalopathy can occur at any age.
Common Gender
Encephalopathy can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Encephalopathy
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Encephalopathy:
Liver function test: To check the excess bilirubin levels
Kidney function test: To check the creatinine levels
Clotting test: To check the ability of blood to clot
Jaundice bilirubin test: To diagnose the jaundice and determine the increased level of bilirubin in the blood
Liver panel test: To detect the liver damage
Complications of Encephalopathy if untreated
Yes, Encephalopathy causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Encephalopathy is left untreated:
portal hypertension
swelling in the legs and abdomen
enlargement of the spleen
malnutrition
buildup of toxins in the brain
jaundice
bone disease
permanent brain damage
hearing loss
fetal death
Procedures for Treatment of Encephalopathy
The following procedures are used to treat Encephalopathy:
Liver transplantation: To replace liver with a healthy liver
Deep brain stimulation: Implants a battery-operated medical device in the brain to deliver electrical stimulation
Self-care for Encephalopathy
The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Encephalopathy:
Don't drink alcohol: Helps preventing further kidney damage
Eat a low-sodium diet: Helps limiting additional liver damage
Eat a healthy diet: Helps limiting additional liver damage
Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Encephalopathy
The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Encephalopathy:
Milk thistle (silymarin) herb supplements intake: Helps treating cirrhosis
Licorice root (glycyrrhiza), Schisandra and Astragalus herb supplements intake: Helps treating liver diseases
Patient Support for Treatment of Encephalopathy
The following actions may help Encephalopathy patients:
Join Support groups: Helps in coping with the disease by avoiding drinking alcohol
Time for Treatment of Encephalopathy
While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Encephalopathy to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
