Medium urgency
-Moderately severe
Alteration in brain function due to a failure in the liver's ability to remove neurotoxins in the blood.
It is caused by diseases that directly affect the liver (hepatitis, cirrhosis, etc.) or by diseases that cause a disturbance in blood flow through the liver.
It manifests with rancid (or sweet) breath, sleep disorders, mental confusion, frequent forgetfulness, personality changes, alteration of concentration, clumsiness in fine movements, tremors and tendency to become agitated. Afterwards, stupor and coma appear.
Diagnosis is reached through the clinical history, a physical examination and blood tests.
If the cause is known, it must be treated, for example, digestive bleeding, infection, etc.
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Dr. Oscar Garcia-Esquirol
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