Lactulose in 149 cases of hepatic encephalopathy and subclinical hepatic encephalopathy

Objective To further assess the treatment efficacy of lactulose in cirrhosis patients with hepatic encephalopathy and subclinical hepatic encephalopathy. Methods To observe the improvement of mental status, asterixis, electroencephalogram (EEG), venous ammonia concentration and the number connection test before and after treatment with lactulose. Results In the hepatic encephalopathy group, the total effective rate of encephalopathy is 96. 5% moreover the venous ammonia concentration and the number connection test after lactulose therapy are significantly higher than that before treatment (P 0. 01). In the subclinical hepatic encephalopathy group,the venous ammonia concentration after lactulose therapy is significantly higher than that before treatment (P0. 01) and the number connection test is significance of difference (P0. 05). No patient with subclinical hepatic encephalopathy developed to hepatic encephalopathy during lactulose treatment. Conclusion Lactulose is suitable to the long-term administration of the cirrhosis patients with hepatic encephalopathy or subclinical hepatic encephalopathy. It can be used as a routine medicine to prevent and treat the hepatic encephalopathy.