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How To Rule Out Alcohol Induced E Encephalopathy?

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Posted on Mon, 18 Jan 2016
Question: Very strange situation
Woman I have started to date. Extreme short term memory loss due to alcohol induced liver failure. Can this improve and if so, how? XXXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sandip Kabra (28 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Need more information for further comments.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome to HCM.

I have read your query and understand the concern.

But before discussing further about short term memory loss of that women,I would like to ask some more information.

How much alcohol is/was she consuming and from how many years?
Is liver failure diagnosed by the doctor? and if yes,then by which tests?
Can you share those tests here? (like liver function tests or ultrasound)
How do you come to know that she is having short-term memory loss?

Kindly get back to me with this answers.

Awaiting your response.

Regards,

Dr.Sandip Kabra

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sandip Kabra (4 hours later)
Dr Kabra
I literally just wrote you a Very detailed answer that took me an hour to write. It erased some how. Any chance HCM can retrieve it somehow.
Here is s very condensed version, but it should answer your questions

She has been hospitalized many times, with the worst being 5 years ago for liver failure where she clinically died and was revived. She woke up with no short term memory.
So assuming she has had every test in the world then and since then.


She was a stripper when younger and for 15 years drank heavily in that environment. 5 years later she was told she had her best liver function tests ever. I asked her to check on Hepatitis. She asked her Drs if she had it and apparently was told no.

She continues to binge drink when we go out, but infrequently. She is very thin at 5'3 and about 112 pounds, but when I met her 4 years ago she was under 100.

Memory loss has not gotten much, if any better since I have known her. It is like she is meeting me for the first time and it is VERY frustrating for both of us.

I have read alot on this due to her and my guessed diagnosis is Hepatic Encephalopathy, but she tells me she does not know or care to know. She is legally disabled and cannot drive due to her illness. My friend is like the character Drew Barrymore played in the movie 50 first Dates.


Hope this helps and thank yoy, XXXXXXX


Tx XXXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sandip Kabra (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
See a neuro-physician for further examintion.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for sharing some more information.

I have read your follow-up query.

Here,I do not think there is any chance of hepatic encephalopathy what you are guessing rather,it could be alcohol induced encephalopahty which is a group of different disorders that cause brain dysfunction but it must be confirmed by complete medical history of patient,clinical examination with some relevant blood tests.

If you are much bothered about memory loss then I would say it can be reversible up to some extent when one stops to drink further and the effect of alcohol gradually vanishes from the body and brain.

However,you have not written about her present liver status or blood liver function tests or ultrasound of hepato-billiary.So,it is difficult for me to comment on her present medical status.

I got your point about her multiple hospitalization and also you said that one time she just died and revived from that position before 5 years.

But here a doctor must have to know about her present mental status,alcohol frequency and blood liver markers with degree of memory loss.

So,you can book an appointment to a neuro-physician who will take her complete history including history of alcoholism with clinical examination including neurological examination with some blood tests if needed.

The doctor may arrive at a certain conclusion about her short-term memory loss and may give his opinion whether it is still reversible by quitting further alcohol ingestion or not.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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Answered by
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Dr. Sandip Kabra

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 3078 Questions

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How To Rule Out Alcohol Induced E Encephalopathy?

Brief Answer: Need more information for further comments. Detailed Answer: Hello, Welcome to HCM. I have read your query and understand the concern. But before discussing further about short term memory loss of that women,I would like to ask some more information. How much alcohol is/was she consuming and from how many years? Is liver failure diagnosed by the doctor? and if yes,then by which tests? Can you share those tests here? (like liver function tests or ultrasound) How do you come to know that she is having short-term memory loss? Kindly get back to me with this answers. Awaiting your response. Regards, Dr.Sandip Kabra