The pathophysiology of hepatic encephalopathy.

Despite several clinical and expeimental studies, the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is still under debate. This is certainly due to the complexity of the issue but, at least in part, the lack of clarity resides on the method of approach utilised in the discussion of this theme. In order to reach a clear cut understanding of the cause-effect ratio the primary peripheral factors accumulating in the blood must be distinghuished from the neurochemical events. Moreover, since there are nowe clinical adn experimental data which demostrate that the patogenesis of HE is multifactorial, each toxin "per se" may not correlate with HE and may not fully explainal the aspects of the syndrome.