Neurobehavioral correlates of cholestatic and hepatocellular disease: differentiation according to disease specific characteristics and severity of the identified cerebral dysfunction.

Subjects with three different types of hepatic cirrhosis were compared on a battery of neuropsychological tests to determine if cerebral dysfunction varied according to the type of liver disease. It was found that the manifest cognitive impairments varied according to the type and etiology of the liver disease. These findings underscore the sensitivity of neuropsychological tests in the detection of hepatic encephalopathy, particularly in cases where there are no overt clinical signs or symptoms of neurologic disturbance. They also suggest that the nature and severity of the measurable neuropsychological abnormalities may vary within patient populations depending upon the etiology of the individual's liver disease and the specific pathophysiological mechanisms involved in its progression.