Driving with minimal hepatic encephalopathy: real world consequences?

Abstract

Mounting evidence suggests that minimal hepatic encephalopathy of cirrhosis may compromise driving performance. A study now reveals that patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy had a greater self-reported frequency of motor vehicle accidents and traffic violations. There are still numerous issues to be resolved before this increasingly recognized variant of hepatic encephalopathy can be firmly linked to hazardous driving. Minimal hepatic encephalopathy affects a substantial proportion of patients with otherwise well-compensated cirrhosis, and because therapies are effective in reversing this type of encephalopathy, its role in motor vehicle accidents deserves further attention.