Sequential Concept Formation Capacity in Subclinical (Latent) Portalsystemic Encephalopathy

Abstract

A card sorting task measuring sequential concept formation capacity was administered to a group of patients with nonalcoholic cirrhosis and to a group of normal controls. Hepatic disease subjects did not differ from normal controls in abstraction ability as measured in this study, suggesting that not all higher cognitive functions are impaired in persons with subclinical PSE.

Key Words:

• Hepatic encephalopathy
• nonalcoholic cirrhosis
• liver disease