HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY IN ILLITERATE PATIENTS WITH COMPENSATED CIRRHOSIS

Objective: To determine frequency of Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy in illiterate patients with compensated cirrhosis. Methods: Illiterate patients with compensated cirrhosis with F4 Score on Shear-wave Elastography were selected for study after informed consent. Sample size was estimated at 106. Selected patients were subjected to two tests for detection of MHE, Number Connection Test A and Block Design Test. Patients taking ≥ 30 seconds were labelled as Positive for MHE. Result: Out of 110 selected patients 10.9% were alcoholics and in 8.2% of patients no hepatic virus infection was detected. HCV was positive in 48.2% patients while HBV was positive in 13.6% of patients. MHE was detected in 72 (65.5%) of patients. Major differences were found in MHE Stage II & III by two tests. Over all BDT detected more cases and gave higher Staging in Stage II & III as compared to NCT-A test. Conclusion: Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy (MHE) could be detected in illiterate patients using NCT-A and BDT Tests. KEY WORDS: Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy, Illetrate, Compensated Cirrhosis