Study on Proteomic and Microbiome Changes in Patients With Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE)

Inclusion Criteria

• •For the NHE (No Hepatic Encephalopathy) Group:
• •1. Aged between 18 and 85 years, inclusive.
• •2. Diagnosis of liver cirrhosis.
• •3. Normal blood ammonia level.
• •4. West-Haven Criteria grade 0 for Hepatic Encephalopathy.
• •5. Normal neurological signs.
• •6. Normal neuropsychological test results.
• •7. Willing to participate and provides written informed consent.
• •For the CHE (Covert Hepatic Encephalopathy) Group:
• •1. Aged between 18 and 85 years, inclusive.
• •2. Diagnosis of liver cirrhosis.
• •3. Elevated blood ammonia level.
• •4. Diagnosis of Covert Hepatic Encephalopathy (West-Haven Criteria grade 0 or I).
• •* Grade 0: No personality or behavioral changes but abnormal neuropsychological tests.
• •* Grade I: Mild cognitive impairment, lack of awareness, euphoria or anxiety, shortened attention span, or impaired performance of addition/subtraction.
• •5. Neurological signs are normal or mild asterixis (flapping tremor) may be elicited.
• •6. Neuropsychological tests are abnormal.
• •7. Willing to participate and provides written informed consent.