Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Patients with Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy

Background: Ammonia is a critical factor in the pathogenesis of minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE). Most of the ammonia is from bacterial production in the intestinal tract. Non-absorbable antibiotics and non-absorbable disaccharides are therefore the therapy of choice. A few studies have addressed the effect of ammonia produced by H. pylori in the pathogenesis of MHE. Methods: In this prospective clinical trial, 84 consecutive patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) underwent laboratory, psychometric und neurophysiological testing to determine serological H. pylori status, MHE and blood ammonia levels. Relevant clinical and demographic characteristics were documented. Results: Out of 84 LC patients (83% male), 29% presented with MHE as assessed by critical flicker frequency analysis (CFF). The prevalence of H. pylori infection in the cohort was 21%; 22% of H. pylori-infected patients presented with MHE according to the criterion of a positive CFF result. If the criterion for MHE was a positive CFF and a positive NCT-A result, then 17% of H. pylori positive patients suffered from MHE. The prevalence of MHE in H. pylori-negative patients, based on CFF alone and on the combination, was 30%. A proportion of 19% of the patients with MHE had increased blood ammonia levels. Conclusion: The amount of ammonia produced by H. pylori does not affect venous ammonia levels. Therefore, an additional benefit of H. pylori eradication in the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy in patients with LC is unlikely to occur. Key words: – – – – – . Abbreviations: CFF: critical flicker frequency analysis; GCP: good clinical practice; GI : gastrointestinal; HE: hepatic encephalopathy; H. pylori: Helicobacter pylori; LC: liver cirrhosis; MHE: minimal hepatic encephalopathy; NASH: non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; NCT-A: number connection test-A; NCT-B: number connection test-B; PHES: Psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score.

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The Role of Helicobacter Pylori Eradication on the Pathogenesis of Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy in Egyptian Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

QJM ◽

10.1093/qjmed/hcab100.068 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 114 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

Mohamed Abdelftah Elmaltawy ◽

Ahmed Saady Khayyal ◽

Mohamed Osama Aly ◽

Hisham Ashraf Elhussieny Elghandour

Keyword(s):

Helicobacter Pylori ◽

Liver Disease ◽

Hepatic Encephalopathy ◽

Chronic Liver Disease ◽

Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy ◽

Chronic Liver ◽

Psychometric Tests ◽

Blood Ammonia ◽

H Pylori

Abstract Background Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE) is defined as alteration of mental state in the absence of other causes of encephalopathy due to liver failure and/or abnormal shunting of blood from portal to systemic circulation often accompanied by elevated blood ammonia. Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the relation between the Helicobacter pylori infectionand minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) in cirrhotic patients and to assess the outcome after treatment of H. pylori. Patients and Methods This study was can•ied out at Egyptian Railway Medical Centre at the in-patients section at Gastroenterology and Hepatology Medicine Department with chronic liver disease who agreed to participate in the study. After performing the psychometric tests the patients were allocated in one of the two groups according to test results: Group I: consisted of 30 consecutive patients who have chronic liver disease and presented with evidence of Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE), as recognized by positive psychometric tests, Group Il: included 30 consecutive patients who presented with chronic liver disease and did not have Minimal hepatic encephalopathy, as confirmed by negative psychometric test. Results In this study a significant reduction was found in blood ammonia levels in MHE and non- MHE after triple-drug anti-H. pylori treatment (p < 0.001). This reduction was more marked in patients with MHE group compared to non-MHE group with % improvement in ammonia level 26.1 ± 8.36 umol/L and 17.79 ± 7.308 for MHE and non-MHE respectively. This finding indicates that H. pylori may contribute to the development of hyperammonemia in patients with liver disease and MHE. The role of H. pylori in the pathogenesis of hyperammonemia has been shown in previous studies which showed a reduction in blood ammonia levels after eradication of H.pylori infection. Conclusion Helicobacter Pylori infection was more prevalent in patients with MHE than without MHE. Serum arnrnonia levels were significantly higher in MHE patients than without MHE and even higher in H.pylori positive patients than without H.pylori infection. Helicobacter Pylori eradication treatment significantly improves ammonia levels, results of psychometric tests and improves manifestations of MHE.

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Critical flicker frequency is diagnostic of minimal hepatic encephalopathy

Journal of Investigative Medicine ◽

10.1136/jim-2017-000428 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 65 (8) ◽

pp. 1131-1135 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Serag Esmat ◽

Nouman El Garem ◽

Hassan Raslan ◽

Mohamed Elfekki ◽

Gihan A Sleem

Keyword(s):

Liver Cirrhosis ◽

Hepatic Encephalopathy ◽

Line Drawing ◽

Abdominal Ultrasound ◽

Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy ◽

Critical Flicker Frequency ◽

Control Group ◽

Flicker Frequency ◽

Drawing Test ◽

Child Class

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.

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