5 Detection of minimal hepatic encephalopathy: EEG spectral analysis vs. cognitive evoked potentials

Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (mHE) is detectable in 30–70% of cirrhotic patients. Psychometric evaluation may demonstrate the presence of minimal cognitive impairment (mCI), and is usually used to diagnose mHE.1 Event related evoked potentials (P300) have been proposed as a tool to improve the detection of mHE2 in addition to psychometric tests. Another investigation that may have relevance to the diagnosis of mHE is spectral analysis of the EEG (SEEG). Little information is available relating to the relative sensitivity of SEEG and P300 in the detection of mHE.3 The aim of this study was to compare the sensitivity of SEEG and auditory P300 in detecting mHE.