Triggers
Liver disease can put anyone at risk of developing hepatic encephalopathy. However, certain factors can trigger or worsen this condition. These triggers include dehydration, gastrointestinal bleeds, infections, constipation, kidney problems, certain medications, and surgical procedures. Excessive alcohol consumption is also a known trigger for hepatic encephalopathy. Additionally, individuals with liver damage may have a portosystemic shunt, which is a tube placed in the liver to relieve high blood pressure in and around the organ, and this can also be a trigger for hepatic encephalopathy.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing hepatic encephalopathy does not involve a single definitive test. Instead, doctors rely on a combination of symptoms, medical history, and a clinical examination. Blood tests can be conducted to identify liver-related issues, but these results are not exclusive to hepatic encephalopathy and should only be considered as supporting evidence for a pre-existing diagnosis. To rule out any brain-related problems, imaging techniques are used as they can help differentiate between conditions like brain tumors and strokes, which share similar symptoms with hepatic encephalopathy.