Treatment Definition A group of symptoms that may occur when there is damage to the brain and nervous system as a complication of liver disorders, characterized by various neurologic symptoms including changes in reflexes, changes in consciousness , and behavior changes that can range from mild to severe.
Hepatic encephalopathy is caused by disorders affecting the liver.
The exact cause of the disorder is unknown. The liver cannot properly metabolize and detoxify substances in the body. One substance believed to be toxic is ammonia , which is produced by the body when proteins are digested, but normally is detoxified by the liver. Many other substances also accumulate in the body and damage the nervous system. Disorders that mimic or mask symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy include alcohol intoxication , sedative overdose , complicated alcohol withdrawal , Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome , subdural hematoma , meningitis , metabolic abnormalities such as low blood glucose .