Conjunctival edema: a marker of increased mortality in patients with advanced hepatic encephalopathy and hepatocellular failure.

Conjunctival edema in the absence of overt ophthalmologic disease is seen in some patients with advanced hepatic encephalopathy and hepatocellular failure. We conducted an observational study in an inner city teaching hospital. Three hundred patients with advanced hepatocellular disease were studied. Three hundred ten intensive care patients were used as controls. The appearance of conjunctival edema and its relation to mortality was noted. Conjunctival edema was seen in 50 patients and was associated with high mortality; 80% in our patients. In conclusion, there was a striking correlation between conjunctival edema and increased mortality in our study population.