Brainstem auditory evoked potentials in hepatic encephalopathy.

Brainstem auditory evoked potentials were obtained from 30 patients primarily with viral hepatitis to determine the functional status of the brainstem in hepatic encephalopathy. The patients were divided into four groups: Group 1 with compensated hepatic diseases; Group 2 with hepatic failure but no hepatic encephalopathy; Group 3 with Grade 1 or 2 hepatic encephalopathy, and Group 4 with Grade 3 or 4 hepatic encephalopathy. The brainstem auditory evoked potential central conduction times (I-V interval) of four patient groups were not significantly different from that of the age-matched control group. The present data suggest that the brainstem auditory pathways remain undisturbed in hepatic encephalopathy.