Open AccessMultimodality magnetic resonance imaging in hepatic encephalopathy: An update
Author(s) -
Xiaodong Zhang,
Longjiang Zhang,
Shaojie Wu,
Guangming Lu
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
world journal of gastroenterology
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.427
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 2219-2840
pISSN - 1007-9327
DOI - 10.3748/wjg.v20.i32.11262
Subject(s) - magnetic resonance imaging , hepatic encephalopathy , medicine , cirrhosis , neuroinflammation , pathophysiology , functional magnetic resonance imaging , pathology , encephalopathy , functional imaging , neuroscience , radiology , psychology , disease
Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a neuropsychiatric complication of cirrhosis or acute liver failure. Currently, HE is regarded as a continuous cognitive impairment ranging from the mildest stage, minimal HE to overt HE. Hyperammonaemia and neuroinflammation are two main underlying factors which contribute to the neurological alterations in HE. Both structural and functional impairments are found in the white mater and grey mater involved in HE. Although the investigations into HE pathophysiological mechanism are enormous, the exact pathophysiological causes underlying HE remain controversial. Multimodality magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays an important role in helping to understand the pathological process of HE. This paper reviews the up-to-date multimodality MRI methods and predominant findings in HE patients with a highlight of the increasingly important role of blood oxygen level dependent functional MRI.