Peri-Transplantational Neuroscience of MHE: An Exploratory Study (v1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An exploratory study investigating functional and structural changes occurring pre- and post-liver transplantation in patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy.
IRAS ID
298894
Contact name
Ashwin Dhanda
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Plymouth
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 5 months, 1 days
Research summary
Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) refers to the brain dysfunction that commonly occurs as a progression of liver cirrhosis. MHE patients experience many symptoms ranging, most prominently, across sleep, mood and cognitive disruption. These symptoms heavily impact their daily life, as many can no longer drive or work, and often have difficulties with their interpersonal relationships. We aim to understand the symptoms of MHE in greater depth, as well as to investigate the brain mechanisms that underpin them by carrying out EEG, TMS and MRI scans to understand functional and structural changes occurring within the brain. Additionally, many MHE patients find that their symptoms improve following liver transplantation, therefore we further aim to carry out the same investigations post-transplantation to characterise the functional and structural changes that might explain recovery from MHE symptoms.
REC name
London - Westminster Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/PR/1038
Date of REC Opinion
4 Nov 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion