Validation of EncephalApp Stroop Test for Diagnosing Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy in the Romanian Population

• Published in: Journal of gastrointestinal and liver diseases : JGLD 2024-09, Vol.33 (3), p.355-361
• Main Authors: Lupescu, Ioan Cristian, Iacob, Speranța Maria, Pietrăreanu, Corina, Gheorghe, Liana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1841-8724; 1842-1121
• DOI: 10.15403/jgld-5231

Background and Aims: Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) represents the mildest form of hepatic encephalopathy. MHE has been associated with impairment of quality of life and job performance, and is a major cause of premature retiring in cirrhotic patients. However, MHE is usually overlooked by most physicians, due to its asymptomatic nature. We aim to present our experience with the EncephalApp Stroop Test for diagnosing MHE in cirrhotic patients. We also want to establish if Stroop test performance correlates with age, educational level, liver disease severity (as assessed by the MELD and Child-Pugh scores), duration of disease, previous episodes of overt hepatic encephalopathy, and other relevant clinical or laboratory parameters. Methods: A cross-sectional observational single-center study, in which 100 adult patients diagnosed with liver cirrhosis were evaluated for the presence of MHE by using the EncephalApp Stroop Test. In parallel, 45 healthy adult controls without liver cirrhosis were recruited and tested under the same conditions as the patients. Results: There were no age-related differences between the two groups (p=0.6). Stroop test performance of the controls (143.1 ± 20.8 seconds) was significantly better than that of the patients (171.9 ± 33.3 seconds) (p