Effect of Lactulose on Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy and Health-Related Quality of Life
Effect of Lactulose on Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy and Health-Related Quality of Life
Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) has a negative effect on patients' daily functioning. No
 study has so far investigated the effect of treatment related improvement in cognitive
 functions on health related quality-of-life (HRQOL). This study was carried out to determine
 the influence of treatment on psychomotor performance and on HRQOL in patients with MHE.

 The mean number of abnormal NP tests decreased significantly in patients in treated group
 compared with patients in untreated group MANOVA for time and treatment, P =.001). Mean total
 SIP score improved among patients in the treated group after 3 months compared with patients
 in untreated group after 3 months (MANOVA for time and treatment, P=.002). Improvement in
 HRQOL was related to the improvement in psychometry. In conclusion, treatment with lactulose
 improves both cognitive functions and HRQOL in cirrhotic patients with MHE.
The study has been published in March 2007 in Hepatology

 Lactulose Improves Cognitive Functions and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with
 Cirrhosis WhoHave Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy.Srinivasa Prasad, Radha K. Dhiman, Ajay
 Duseja, Yogesh K. Chawla, Arpita Sharma, and Ritesh Agarwal. (HEPATOLOGY 2007;45:549-559.)
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  All the patients diagnosed as having cirrhosis of liver

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Overt HE or a history of overt HE;

 -  History of recent (< 6 weeks) alcohol intake;

 -  Infection, recent (< 6 weeks) antibiotic use or gastrointestinal bleeding;

 -  History of recent (< 6 weeks) use of drugs affecting psychometric

 -  Performances like benzodiazepens, antiepileptics, psychotropic drugs;

 -  History of shunt surgery or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for portal
 hypertension;

 -  Electrolyte imbalance;

 -  Renal impairment;

 -  Presence of hepatocellular carcinoma;

 -  Severe medical problems such as congestive heart failure, pulmonary disease,
 neurological or psychiatric disorder, etc., that could influence quality-of-life
 measurement;

 -  Inability to perform NP tests and to complete the SIP questionnaire due to bad vision.