Author/Authors :
Zuberi, Bader Faiyaz Department of Medicine - Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan , Alvi, Haris Department of Medicine - Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan , Zuberi, Faisal Faiyaz , Rasheed, Tazeen Department of Medicine - Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan , Nawaz, Zunaira , tuz-Zohra, Fatima Department of Medicine - Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
Abstract :
Objective: To determine frequency of Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy in illiterate patients with
compensated cirrhosis.
Methods: Illiterate patients with compensated cirrhosis with F4 Score on Shear-wave Elastography were
selected for study after informed consent. Sample size was estimated at 106. Selected patients were
subjected to two tests for detection of MHE, Number Connection Test A and Block Design Test. Patients
taking ≥ 30 seconds were labelled as Positive for MHE.
Result: Out of 110 selected patients 10.9% were alcoholics and in 8.2% of patients no hepatic virus infection
was detected. HCV was positive in 48.2% patients while HBV was positive in 13.6% of patients. MHE was
detected in 72 (65.5%) of patients. Major differences were found in MHE Stage II & III by two tests. Over all
BDT detected more cases and gave higher Staging in Stage II & III as compared to NCT-A test.
Conclusion: Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy (MHE) could be detected in illiterate patients using NCT-A
and BDT Tests.
