Hepatic encephalopathy ocurring in patients with acute and chronic liver disease is considered lethal if not treated appropriately, but can be entirely reversible.
In addition, liver cirrhosis and hepatoma are considered serious problems due to high prevalence of type B hepatitis in Korea.
Forty-six cases of hepatic encephalopathy, admitted in Seoul Christian Hospital from Mar. 1989 to Feb. 1990, were analyzed retrospectively.
The results of this study were as follows :
1. Men were 37 cases(80.4%) and women were 9 cases(19.6%), and the male to female ratio was 4.1:1
2. The mean age of the patients was 48.7 years old and 23 cases(50.0%) were in 5th decade, 12 cases(10.9%) in 6th decade, and 5 cases(10.95) in 4th and 7th decade, respectively.
3. Underlying liver disease were 39 cases(84.8%) of liver cirrhosis, 5 cases(10.9%) of type B hepatitis, and each 1 case(2.2%) of hepatoma and metastatic liver carcinoma.
4. Precipitating factors were gastrointestinal hemorrhage in 15 cases(32.6%), infection in 10 cases(21.7%), paracentesis in 6 cases(13.0%), constipation in 3 cases(6.5%), hyponatremia in 2 cases(4.3%), and hypokalemia in 1 case(2.2%).
5. Neuropsychiatric features were mental change in 28 cases(60.9%), flapping tremor in 12 cases(26.0%), irritability in 3 cases(6.5%), and seizure in 2 cases(4.3%).
6. The level of SGOT and SGPT was increased in 42 cases(93.3%), and its mean value was 175.9I U/L and 104.3 IU/L.
7. The level of Serum ammonia was increased in 43 cases(93.4%), and its mean value was 238.4.
8. 19 cases(41.3%) were expired, 21 cases(45.7%) were recovered and 6 cases(13.0%) were discharged against advice.

During the period from March to July, 1990, 2,587 cases of insured adults were observed for the periodic health examination (PHE) at the Seoul Christian Hospital.
The results were as follows:
1. Among the total 2,587 cases, Male was 1,915(74.0%) and female was 672(26.0%)
2. As the destribution of their age, there were 395(13.8%) in the 2nd decade, 956(37.0%) in the 3rd decade, 749(29.0%) in the 4th decade, 489(18.9%) in the 6th decade.
3. As the distribution of their occupation, there were 1,446(55.1%) in the official, 944(34.5%) in the teacher and 197(7.6%) in the employee.
4. As the result of the primary check-up there were suspicious diseases in 479(18.5%) and cases that had more than two kinds of diseases in 70(2.7%) of them.
5. As the result of the secondary check-up, there were diseases in 240 cases(9.3%) and cases that had more than two kinds of diseases in 240 cases(9.3%) and cases that had more than two kinds of diseases in 22 cases of them.