Therapeutic Areas

Liver : Mild Hepatic Encephalopathy

Mild (or minimal) hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is a term used to describe the inability to concentrate, react, and process information. This condition is observed in 20 to 60%¹ of patients with liver cirrhosis. Cirrhosis affects more than 1 million patients in the U.S.²

Mild (or minimal) hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is a neurocognitive disorder resulting from the inability of patients with cirrhosis to eliminate various neurotoxins, such as ammonia. Symptoms include inability to concentrate, react, and process information. Until recently, these patients were under-diagnosed due to lack of validated neurocognitive assessment tools, despite the fact that these patients are at a higher risk of losing their jobs, have more frequent vehicular accidents, lower quality of life³ and develop more severe episodes of hepatic encephalopathy. Recent data show that MHE may respond to lactulose therapy, but the side effect profile of lactulose, which includes severe diarrhea, may limit its use in these patients.⁴

See also: ASTUTE Study with AST-120