[Gut flora and gut-derived endotoxin in minimal hepatic encephalopathy].

Objective: To investigate the relationship of gut flora and gut-derived endotoxin with minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE).

Methods: Patients with hepatitis B virus-related liver cirrhosis (HBV-LC) were screened for MHE using the number connect test-A (NCT-A) and digital symbol test (DST) and divided into the following groups: HBV-LC with (+) MHE (n = 26) and HBV-liver cirrhosis without (-) MHE (n = 25); in addition, one healthy immediate family member of each patient in the HBV-LC + MHE group was enrolled as a control. Each participant provided fecal and blood samples.