Patient's question:
Recently, my friend asked me about the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy. At that time, I didn't explain it to him because I didn't know either. So I'm asking you all, and at the same time, I also want to know its pathogenesis so that I can improve my skills. This way, when someone asks me again, I'll know the answer.Doctor's answer:
Hepatic encephalopathy is the most severe symptom caused by liver function failure, leading to impending death. This should be related to the imbalance of blood ammonia decomposition metabolism and endocrine disorders. When the production and complete clearance of blood ammonia are unbalanced, the level of ammonia in the blood decreases. After liver function abnormalities, the ornithine cycle becomes repeatedly disrupted, resulting in insufficient complete clearance of ammonia. Blood ammonia and aromatic amino acids enter brain cells, causing ammonia poisoning, which leads to confusion.