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Hepatic Encephalopathy in Acute Liver Failure: Role of the Glutamate System

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Advances in Cirrhosis, Hyperammonemia, and Hepatic Encephalopathy

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 420))

Abstract

Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE) in acute liver failure is a neuropsychiatric syndrome resulting from severe inflammatory or necrotic liver disease of rapid onset. HE typically progresses through altered mental status to stupor and coma within hours or days. The most common cause of death in acute liver failure is brain herniation caused by increased intracranial pressure that results from cytotoxic brain edema. Despite intensive study in recent years, the fundamental neurobiological mechanisms responsible for HE in acute liver failure have not been fully elucidated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neuroscience Research Unit, Hôpital Saint-Luc (University of Montreal), Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H2X 3J4

    Adrianna Michalak, Kerstin Knecht & Roger F. Butterworth

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  1. Adrianna Michalak
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  2. Kerstin Knecht
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  3. Roger F. Butterworth
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  1. Instituto de Investigaciones Citologicas de la F. V. I. B., Valencia, Spain

    Vicente Felipo  & Santiago Grisolía  & 

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Michalak, A., Knecht, K., Butterworth, R.F. (1997). Hepatic Encephalopathy in Acute Liver Failure: Role of the Glutamate System. In: Felipo, V., Grisolía, S. (eds) Advances in Cirrhosis, Hyperammonemia, and Hepatic Encephalopathy. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 420. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5945-0_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5945-0_2

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