P-121 ASSESSMENT OF THE ANTERIOR AND POSTERIOR ATTENTIONAL NETWORKS IN PATIENTS WITH MINIMAL HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY

Introduction

In patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE), the spectrum of cognitive functions impaired is related to motor slowness, although the attentional network could also be affected. The posterior and frontal attentional networks can be assessed with discrimination and interference tests, respectively.

Objective

Compare the response to the increase of attentional demands through the discrimination test in the presence of distractor stimuli.

Methods

Thirty-five cirrhotic (55±3.4 years old) patients and forty-seven controls (41±11.1 years old) performed a discrimination task consisting of two different tones and an interference task of three tones. Reaction times (RT) were recorded. MHE was detected with the number connecting test (NCT-B), age, and years of education corrected.

Results

MHE was detected in 12/35 (34%) of cirrhotic patients. Analysis of covariance ANCOVA (group as a factor, age, and education as covariables) was statistically significant for RT of the discrimination task; control vs cirrhosis (p=0.011) and control vs MHE (p<0.001). For the interference task in both control vs cirrhosis and control vs MHE (p<0.001), the RTs were not different between MHE and cirrhosis.

Conclusions

The attentional network anterior and posterior assessed with discrimination and interference attentional test is impaired in both cirrhotic and MHE patients compared to controls.