STUDYTHECHANGE•OF PORTAL BLooD FLOW IN CIRRHOTIC PATIENTS WITH HEPATIC COMA

Abstract

Hepatic encephalopathy is a complex neuropsychiatric syndrome that appears to be characteriz;ed predominantly by augmented neuronal inhibition. The syndrome is a feature of acute, late-onset or chronic hepatocellular• failure. It is generally considered to be a -potentially reversible metabolic encephalopathy (Sherlock, 1993). The clinical manifestations range from slight altered mental status to coma and death may occur (Podolosky et al., 1 991).

Portal blood flow in man is about 1000 - I200 ml/min. (Sherlock et al., 1997). Coini et al. (1992) confirms that patients with liver cirrhosis have significantly lower mean value of maximum and mean PVF than those observed in normal subject.