Encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. A neuropsychological study.

Neuropsychological tests and clinical ratings of the level of consciousness were performed in 30 patients with encephalopathy due to cirrhosis of the liver. Compared to the test norms for patients with diffuse cerebral lesions, the state of encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis has a qualitatively different pattern of cerebral affection, since disturbances of attention were found independently of general intellectual function. Eight cirrhotic patients without portacaval anastomosis were matched in clinical rating with 8 patients with portacaval anastomosis. The course of cerebral affection after portacaval shunts showed defects characteristic of intellectual impairments in diffuse cerebral lesions, which were not found in the non-operated matched controls.