RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Critical flicker frequency is diagnostic of minimal hepatic encephalopathy
JF Journal of Investigative Medicine
JO J Investig Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP jim-2017-000428
DO 10.1136/jim-2017-000428
A1 Serag Esmat
A1 Nouman El Garem
A1 Hassan Raslan
A1 Mohamed Elfekki
A1 Gihan A Sleem
YR 2017
UL http://hw-f5-jim.highwire.org/content/early/2017/07/25/jim-2017-000428.abstract
AB Minimal hepatic encephalopathy may affect up to 80% of cirrhotic patients, in the absence of overt hepatic encephalopathy. The objective of the study is to evaluate the accuracy of diagnosis of minimal hepatic encephalopathy with critical flicker frequency (CFF). The study was conducted on 180 patients with post hepatitis C liver cirrhosis and on 60 healthy subjects as control. Patients and controls were divided into four groups: group 1 (60), healthy individuals as a control group; group 2 (60), patients with liver cirrhosis (Child class A); group 3 (60), patients with liver cirrhosis (Child class B); and group 4 (60), patients with liver cirrhosis (Child class C). All participants were subjected to estimation of CFF, line drawing test, complete blood picture, liver functions, viral markers, and abdominal ultrasound. CFF detected abnormality in 90% of patients. Accuracy of CFF in differentiation of Child A from normal is 100%, Child B from normal is 100%, Child C from normal is 100%, Child A from Child B is 80%, Child A from Child C is 100% and Child B from Child C is 100%, and it has higher accuracy than line drawing test. CFF is a simple, reliable and accurate method for the diagnosis of minimal hepatic encephalopathy. It is not influenced by the patient level of education.