Guest guest Posted August 4, 2010 Report Share Posted August 4, 2010 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepatic_encephalopathy People with hepatic encephalopathy, also known as portal systemic encephalopathy are not mean on purpose. They cant help it. They are intoxicated by the substances which are not being suffeciently filtered or metabolized by a sick liver. Type Causes --------------------------------------------------------------------------------\ ------------------------------------------- Excessive nitrogen load Consumption of large amounts of protein, gastrointestinal bleeding e.g. from oesophageal varices (blood is high in protein, which is reabsorbed from the bowel), renal failure (inability to excrete nitrogen-containing waste products such as urea), constipation --------------------------------------------------------------------------------\ ---------------------------------------------------------- Electrolyte or metabolic disturbance Hyponatraemia (low sodium level in the blood) and hypokalaemia (low potassium levels)—these are both common in those taking diuretics, often used for the treatment of ascites; furthermore alkalosis (decreased acid level), hypoxia (insufficient oxygen levels), dehydration --------------------------------------------------------------------------------\ ----------------------------------------------------------- Drugs and medications Sedatives such as benzodiazepines (often used to suppress alcohol withdrawal or anxiety disorder), narcotics (used as painkillers or drugs of abuse) and sedative antipsychotics, alcohol intoxication --------------------------------------------------------------------------------\ ------------------------------------------------------- Infection Pneumonia, urinary tract infection, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, other infections --------------------------------------------------------------------------------\ ------------------------------------------------ Others Surgery, progression of the liver disease, additional cause for liver damage (e.g. alcoholic hepatitis, hepatitis A) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------\ ----------------------------------------------------------- Unknown In 20–30% of cases, no clear cause for an attack can be found It is not always ammonia. I could be dehydration, or internal bleeding. Bobby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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