A rare case of acquired hepatocerebral degeneration in cirrhosis

Abstract

Hepatic encephalopathy is the most common neurologic complication of cirrhosis of the liver, while acquired hepatocerebral degeneration (AHD) is an underestimated neurologic manifestation. It is characterized by parkinsonism, ataxia, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. It is an underdiagnosed cause of psychomotor retardation in patients with chronic parenchymal liver disease with portosystemic shunting. Manganese deposition in the basal ganglia has been proposed as a mechanism for AHD. Here, we report a case of AHD in a patient with chronic parenchymal liver disease who responded to dopamine agonist.

Keywords

• Hepatocerebral degeneration
• manganese
• parkinsonism