Table 1.
Demographic and clinical variables of the three groups.
| Variable | MHE (n = 33) | No-HE (n = 45) | Controls (n = 21) | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | 50.88 ± 8.44 | 49.93 ± 8.19 | 50.58 ± 8.07 | 0.747 |
| Gender (M/F) | 27/6 | 38/7 | 17/4 | 0.924 |
| Years of education | 7.72 ± 2.55 | 8.44 ± 3.03 | 8.33 ± 2.44 | 0.508 |
| Neuropsychological tests | MHE(n = 21) | No-HE(n = 33) | controls(n = 21) | |
| NCT-A score | 75.29 ± 19.30 | 46.30 ± 18.74 | 47.35 ± 14.41 | <0.001 |
| NCT-B score | 176.14 ± 45.93 | 125.91 ± 46.30 | 111.15 ± 27.60 | <0.001 |
| DST score | 25.24 ± 7.62 | 41.15 ± 11.00 | 43.33 ± 9.12 | <0.001 |
| BDT score | 18.24 ± 8.24 | 29.48 ± 9.80 | 31.20 ± 7.89 | <0.001 |
| Clinical profile | MHE(n = 21) | No-HE(n = 33) | ||
| Total bilirubin levels | 112.39 ± 172.49 | 25.08 ± 15.98 | N/A | 0.031 |
| Albumin levels | 35.18 ± 7.16 | 38.18 ± 7.96 | N/A | 0.157 |
| AST levels | 38.40 ± 21.53 | 42.81 ± 23.09 | N/A | 0.485 |
| ALT levels | 57.52 ± 45.42 | 49.75 ± 27.46 | N/A | 0.436 |
| AST/ALT | 1.62 ± 0.94 | 1.29 ± 0.53 | N/A | 0.107 |
| Blood coagulation time | 21.93 ± 7.15 | 17.92 ± 4.03 | N/A | 0.011 |
| Child-Pugh Score | 7.66 ± 2.20 | 7.09 ± 1.97 | N/A | 0.322 |
| Child Pugh A/B/C | 9/7/5 | 16/13/4 | N/A | 0.531 |
Values are expressed as mean ± SE. Cirrhotic patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE), Cirrhotic patients without minimal hepatic encephalopathy (No-HE). NCT-A, Number Connection Test A. NCT—B, Number Connection Test B. DST, Digit Symbol Test. BDT, Block Design Test. AST, aspartate aminotransferase. ALT, alanine transaminase.