[The usefulness of P300 potential in hepatic encephalopathy diagnostics of alcoholic etiology].

UNLABELLED: The consequence of consuming excessive amount of alcohol is the damage of internal organs, particularly liver. In the liver there comes in turn to its fatty degeneration, hepatitis, fibrosis and finally to its cirrhosis. The aim of the study was the analysis of P300 potential in subjects chronically abusing alcohol with alcohol-related toxic liver damage and the assessment of the usefulness of this potential in the diagnosis of hepatic encephalopathy.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Group I--consisted of 30 men meeting the criteria of alcohol dependency syndrome, with diagnosed alcohol-related toxic liver damage. Comparative group--consisted of 30 physically and mentally healthy men, with no alcohol dependency syndrome. The following were carried out in all the examined: examination of auditory endogenic P300 potential.

RESULTS

In subjects chronically abusing alcohol, with diagnosed toxic liver damage statistically significant prolonged latency and also reduced amplitude (p < 0.001) were found in comparison with the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

1. Changes in P300 parameters (latency elongation and amplitude reduction) in alcohol-dependent subjects with alcohol-related liver damage were confirmed. 2. P300 potential may be a complementary method in the diagnosis of hepatic encephalopathy.