Cognitive impairment in primary biliary cirrhosis: symptom impact and potential etiology.

Unlabelled: Qualitative studies suggest that patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) experience significant problems with memory and concentration. Studies of nonhepatic disease have linked hypotension and cognitive impairment. In this study, we determined the prevalence of cognitive symptoms in PBC, examined the relationship between symptoms and overt cognitive impairment and structural brain lesions, and explored the role of autonomic dysfunction.

Autonomic dysfunction in primary biliary cirrhosis correlates with fatigue severity.

Background And Aims: Autonomic dysfunction has previously been described in primary biliary cirrhosis patients. In nonhepatic diseases, fatigue is associated with autonomic dysfunction and impaired baroreflex sensitivity. Here, we investigate the prevalence of autonomic dysfunction using highly sensitive detection modalities and its relationship with fatigue in both noncirrhotic and cirrhotic primary biliary cirrhosis patients.

The effect of contrast reduction on pattern-reversal VEPs in suspected multiple sclerosis and optic neuritis.

A retrospective study was conducted to investigate whether the use of low-contrast stimuli in addition to the standard high-contrast stimuli would increase the sensitivity of the pattern-reversal P100 when testing for multiple sclerosis (MS) and optic neuritis (ON). We found that there was a statistically significant increase in the number of abnormal results when using 25' checks, but not for 50' checks. Examination of patient records showed that VEP abnormalities to low-contrast stimuli only was not prognostic for subsequent development of multiple sclerosis.