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Hepatocerebral degeneration

Overview Symptoms Treatment Prevention
Alternative Names:
Chronic acquired (non-Wilsonian) hepatocerebral degeneration
Treatment:
Treatment is aimed at reducing the metabolic by-products that accumulate due to liver failure. This may include laxatives such as lactulose that lower the level of ammonia in the blood. There is no specific treatment of the neurologic syndrome as it is due to the liver disease. A liver transplant may be curative of the liver disease but the neurological symptoms may or may not be reversible.
Expectations (prognosis):
The natural history of this illness is progressive worsening with eventual death if the liver is not replaced by transplant. If a transplant occurs early in the course of the disease, the neurological syndrome may be reversible.
Complications:
Complications include hepatic coma and severe brain damage.
Calling your health care provider:
Call your healthcare provider if you have any signs or symptoms of liver disease.
Liver anatomy
Liver anatomy
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