RESUMO
La encefalopatía hepática (EH) es una complicación grave y frecuente del daño hepático crónico (DHC), que se diagnostica clínicamente luego de descartar otras causas de disfunción cerebral. Su manejo consiste en identificar y corregir los factores desencadenantes, disminuir los niveles de amonio con disacáridos no reabsorbibles y eventualmente el uso de antibióticos de baja absorción intestinal, de preferencia rifaximina.
Hepatic encephalopathy is a serious and frequent complication of chronic liver disease and its clinical diagnosis is arrived at once other causes of cerebral dysfunction have been ruled out. It is managed by identifying and correcting triggering factors, lowering plasma ammonium levels by use of non-absorbable disaccharides and oral use of poorly absorbed antibiotics, preferably rifaximin.