Beware! Symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy caused by liver cancer

Hepatic encephalopathy, also known as hepatic coma or hepatic brain syndrome, is a common complication of liver cancer in the terminal stage. It is characterized by central nervous system dysfunction and metabolic disorders, with intellectual impairment, impaired consciousness, neurological signs and liver damage as the main clinical manifestations. It is also one of the common causes of death from liver cancer, causing about 30% of the patients to die. So what are the symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy caused by liver cancer?

1. Causes

The occurrence of hepatic encephalopathy is closely related to liver failure. Common factors leading to liver failure in patients with liver cancer include diffuse liver cancer and advanced massive liver cancer cells, extensive cancer cell infiltration or combined with liver cirrhosis, obvious liver damage, or modern anti-tumor treatments such as hepatic artery ligation, hepatic artery embolization chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.

2. Diagnosis

The diagnosis of encephalopathy due to liver cancer complications is not difficult. The following points can be used as the basis for diagnosis:

1. Patients with advanced liver cancer may experience a series of abnormal mental and neurological symptoms, such as changes in consciousness, sleep disturbances, asterixis, coma, etc.

2. It can be caused by upper gastrointestinal bleeding, ruptured hemorrhage of liver cancer, secondary infection, excessive ascites drainage, use of large doses of diuretics, surgical trauma, use of liver-damaging drugs, and high-protein diet.

3. Patients with decompensated cirrhosis have obvious inducements to develop the above symptoms.

4. Blood ammonia increased >59μmol/L.

5. EEG has obvious abnormal changes, such as slow rhythm, beta wave, and symmetrical high-voltage slow waves on both sides. Digital connection, digital word test, building block test, signature test are mainly helpful for early diagnosis.

3. Clinical manifestations

The main manifestations are confusion, loss of orientation and calculation ability, drowsiness, coma and asterixis on the basis of common liver cancer symptoms such as upper abdominal mass, liver pain, weight loss and loss of appetite. Among them, asterixis is the characteristic manifestation of hepatic encephalopathy. In 1983, the Chinese Medical Association divided hepatic encephalopathy into the following three levels:

Grade I: Slowed reaction time, lack of concentration, insomnia, euphoria, personality changes, lack of response to surrounding things, abnormal behavior, depression, lethargy, loss of orientation.

Grade II: Mental confusion, not recognizing people, stupor, drowsiness, asterixis or involuntary movements.

Grade III: Coma, including deep coma and shallow coma.

Level I is often ignored, while level II is taken seriously. Electroencephalogram (EEG) can help with diagnosis.

The above are some symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy caused by liver cancer. Expert Tips: If your health shows symptoms of the disease, you can choose the appropriate treatment according to your symptoms, but do not delay the diagnosis, and do not let your life be ruined in hesitation. You should go to a regular hospital for medical treatment in time to avoid delaying the disease and causing serious consequences. If you have other questions, please consult our online experts or call for consultation. Believe in miracles, and wish you health, happiness, and joy!

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