[Ambulatory diagnosis and therapy control of portasystemic encephalopathy in patients with liver cirrhosis].

The Number Connection Test (NCT) by Harold O. Conn was tested for its usefulness for diagnosis and treatment control of portasystemic encephalopathy in out-patients. For this purpose in 30 patients with liver cirrhosis the time in the NCT was determined and the serum ammonia level (NH3) was measured before the treatment with lactulose and neomycin was started. Moreover, 12 clinical symptoms and 10 laboratory parameters were tested for correlation with the NCT-time. We found a positive correlation between the NCT-time and NH3 serum level. For the prediction of the NCT-time the multiple linear regression yielded the combination of NH3 with the proof of ascites and palmar erythema as the best subset of predictor variables. By means of the NCT the effectiveness of the treatment with lactulose and neomycin was demonstrated. We recommend the NCT for the clinical routine in particular for the early diagnosis and for treatment control of portasystemic encephalopathy in patients with liver cirrhosis.