Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy May Impair Driving Ability

[Guest guest]

Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy May Impair Driving Ability

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Apr 21 - Patients with minimal hepatic

encephalopathy (MHE) may have impaired fitness to drive a car, according to

a report in March issue of Hepatology. The authors therefore recommend that

patients with liver cirrhosis should be tested for MHE.

" It has been suggested that the ability to drive a car is impaired in

patients with cirrhosis of the liver and MHE, " Dr. Christian Wein, of the

University of Hamburg, Germany, and colleagues write. " However, the only

study using an on-road driving test did not reveal such an impairment. "

In a prospective, controlled study, the researchers assessed 274 consecutive

patients with liver cirrhosis for MHE and the ability to drive a car. Three

psychometric tests were used to diagnosis MHE and the subjects' driving

performance was evaluated using a standardized on-road test designed for

patients with brain impairment.

Forty-eight patients were included in the study--14 with MHE and 34 without

MHE. A control group included 49 subjects in a stable phase of chronic

gastroenterological diseases with normal liver findings.

Compared with cirrhotic patients without MHE and controls, the total driving

score was significantly reduced in patients with MHE (p < 0.05). Significant

differences between those with and without MHE were observed for adaptation

to the driving situation, cautiousness, and handling the car. Significant

differences were also found in specific driving actions, such as following

road signs, paying attention to bicyclists and pedestrians, and following

traffic rules.

The instructor had to intervene in 11 patients. An intervention was nearly

10 times as likely to be necessary in cirrhotic patients with MHE versus

cirrhotic patients without MHE (p = 0.008). No significant differences in

any driving category or specific driving action were observed between

cirrhotic patients without MHE and controls.

" MHE is a condition that may diminish the ability to drive, " Dr. Wein and

colleagues conclude. " As a consequence, we feel justified in endorsing

surveillance and treatment of these patients but are not yet [ready] to

conclude that all of them are unfit to drive. "

Hepatology 2004;39:739-745.

[Guest guest]

Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy May Impair Driving Ability

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Apr 21 - Patients with minimal hepatic

encephalopathy (MHE) may have impaired fitness to drive a car, according to

a report in March issue of Hepatology. The authors therefore recommend that

patients with liver cirrhosis should be tested for MHE.

" It has been suggested that the ability to drive a car is impaired in

patients with cirrhosis of the liver and MHE, " Dr. Christian Wein, of the

University of Hamburg, Germany, and colleagues write. " However, the only

study using an on-road driving test did not reveal such an impairment. "

In a prospective, controlled study, the researchers assessed 274 consecutive

patients with liver cirrhosis for MHE and the ability to drive a car. Three

psychometric tests were used to diagnosis MHE and the subjects' driving

performance was evaluated using a standardized on-road test designed for

patients with brain impairment.

Forty-eight patients were included in the study--14 with MHE and 34 without

MHE. A control group included 49 subjects in a stable phase of chronic

gastroenterological diseases with normal liver findings.

Compared with cirrhotic patients without MHE and controls, the total driving

score was significantly reduced in patients with MHE (p < 0.05). Significant

differences between those with and without MHE were observed for adaptation

to the driving situation, cautiousness, and handling the car. Significant

differences were also found in specific driving actions, such as following

road signs, paying attention to bicyclists and pedestrians, and following

traffic rules.

The instructor had to intervene in 11 patients. An intervention was nearly

10 times as likely to be necessary in cirrhotic patients with MHE versus

cirrhotic patients without MHE (p = 0.008). No significant differences in

any driving category or specific driving action were observed between

cirrhotic patients without MHE and controls.

" MHE is a condition that may diminish the ability to drive, " Dr. Wein and

colleagues conclude. " As a consequence, we feel justified in endorsing

surveillance and treatment of these patients but are not yet [ready] to

conclude that all of them are unfit to drive. "

Hepatology 2004;39:739-745.

[Guest guest]

Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy May Impair Driving Ability

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Apr 21 - Patients with minimal hepatic

encephalopathy (MHE) may have impaired fitness to drive a car, according to

a report in March issue of Hepatology. The authors therefore recommend that

patients with liver cirrhosis should be tested for MHE.

" It has been suggested that the ability to drive a car is impaired in

patients with cirrhosis of the liver and MHE, " Dr. Christian Wein, of the

University of Hamburg, Germany, and colleagues write. " However, the only

study using an on-road driving test did not reveal such an impairment. "

In a prospective, controlled study, the researchers assessed 274 consecutive

patients with liver cirrhosis for MHE and the ability to drive a car. Three

psychometric tests were used to diagnosis MHE and the subjects' driving

performance was evaluated using a standardized on-road test designed for

patients with brain impairment.

Forty-eight patients were included in the study--14 with MHE and 34 without

MHE. A control group included 49 subjects in a stable phase of chronic

gastroenterological diseases with normal liver findings.

Compared with cirrhotic patients without MHE and controls, the total driving

score was significantly reduced in patients with MHE (p < 0.05). Significant

differences between those with and without MHE were observed for adaptation

to the driving situation, cautiousness, and handling the car. Significant

differences were also found in specific driving actions, such as following

road signs, paying attention to bicyclists and pedestrians, and following

traffic rules.

The instructor had to intervene in 11 patients. An intervention was nearly

10 times as likely to be necessary in cirrhotic patients with MHE versus

cirrhotic patients without MHE (p = 0.008). No significant differences in

any driving category or specific driving action were observed between

cirrhotic patients without MHE and controls.

" MHE is a condition that may diminish the ability to drive, " Dr. Wein and

colleagues conclude. " As a consequence, we feel justified in endorsing

surveillance and treatment of these patients but are not yet [ready] to

conclude that all of them are unfit to drive. "

Hepatology 2004;39:739-745.

[Guest guest]

Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy May Impair Driving Ability

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Apr 21 - Patients with minimal hepatic

encephalopathy (MHE) may have impaired fitness to drive a car, according to

a report in March issue of Hepatology. The authors therefore recommend that

patients with liver cirrhosis should be tested for MHE.

" It has been suggested that the ability to drive a car is impaired in

patients with cirrhosis of the liver and MHE, " Dr. Christian Wein, of the

University of Hamburg, Germany, and colleagues write. " However, the only

study using an on-road driving test did not reveal such an impairment. "

In a prospective, controlled study, the researchers assessed 274 consecutive

patients with liver cirrhosis for MHE and the ability to drive a car. Three

psychometric tests were used to diagnosis MHE and the subjects' driving

performance was evaluated using a standardized on-road test designed for

patients with brain impairment.

Forty-eight patients were included in the study--14 with MHE and 34 without

MHE. A control group included 49 subjects in a stable phase of chronic

gastroenterological diseases with normal liver findings.

Compared with cirrhotic patients without MHE and controls, the total driving

score was significantly reduced in patients with MHE (p < 0.05). Significant

differences between those with and without MHE were observed for adaptation

to the driving situation, cautiousness, and handling the car. Significant

differences were also found in specific driving actions, such as following

road signs, paying attention to bicyclists and pedestrians, and following

traffic rules.

The instructor had to intervene in 11 patients. An intervention was nearly

10 times as likely to be necessary in cirrhotic patients with MHE versus

cirrhotic patients without MHE (p = 0.008). No significant differences in

any driving category or specific driving action were observed between

cirrhotic patients without MHE and controls.

" MHE is a condition that may diminish the ability to drive, " Dr. Wein and

colleagues conclude. " As a consequence, we feel justified in endorsing

surveillance and treatment of these patients but are not yet [ready] to

conclude that all of them are unfit to drive. "

Hepatology 2004;39:739-745.