Bradykinesia in cirrhotic patients with early hepatic encephalopathy is related to a decreased glucose uptake of frontomesial cortical areas relevant for movement initiation.

Background/aims: Bradykinesia is one of the first symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Recently it has been suggested that bradykinesia in HE is due to disturbances in movement initiation. Areas involved in self-initiated movement are the motor- and premotor cortex, the supplementary motor cortex, the motor areas of the cingulate gyrus, and part of the frontomesial- and parietal cortex.

Hepatitis C virus infection affects the brain-evidence from psychometric studies and magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Background/aims: Up to 50% of patients infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) complain of chronic fatigue and difficulties in concentration and memory. The aim of the present study was to seek evidence for the presence of central nervous system involvement in HCV infected patients with only mild liver disease.

Methods: Thirty HCV infected patients with normal liver function, 15 of whom were identified as having mild and 15 moderate to severe fatigue using the fatigue impact scale, underwent neurological and neuropsychological examination, electroencephalography (EEG) and cerebral proton magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS).

Bradykinesia in minimal hepatic encephalopathy is due to disturbances in movement initiation.

Background: One of the predominant symptoms of early stages of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is bradykinesia.

Aims: To further analyze the pathophysiology of bradykinesia in HE.

Methods: A three-dimensional computer-assisted movement analysis was performed in 36 cirrhotics with grade 0-I HE compared to 18 controls selected with regard to sex and age and 16 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).