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Journal Article

Citation

Torlot FJ, McPhail MJ, Taylor-Robinson SD. Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther. 2013; 37(5): 527-536.

Affiliation

Hepatology & Gastroenterology Section, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism, Department of Medicine, St Mary's Hospital Campus, Imperial College London, London, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/apt.12199

PMID

23293917

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) reduces quality of life, increases the risk of road traffic incidents and predicts progression to overt hepatic encephalopathy and death. Current psychometry-based diagnostic methods are effective, but time-consuming and a universal 'gold standard' test has yet to be agreed upon. Critical Flicker Frequency (CFF) is a proposed language-independent diagnostic tool for MHE, but its accuracy has yet to be confirmed. AIM: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of CFF for MHE by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis of all studies, which report on the diagnostic accuracy of this test. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed to locate all publications reporting on the diagnostic accuracy of CFF for MHE. Data were extracted from 2 × 2 tables or calculated from reported accuracy data. Collated data were meta-analysed for sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and summary receiver operator curve (sROC) analysis. Prespecified subgroup analysis and meta-regression were also performed. RESULTS: Nine studies with data for 622 patients were included. Summary sensitivity was 61% (95% CI: 55-67), specificity 79% (95% CI: 75-83) and DOR 10.9 (95% CI: 4.2-28.3). A symmetrical sROC gave an area under the receiver operator curve of 0.84 (SE = 0.06). The heterogeneity of the DOR was 74%. CONCLUSIONS: Critical Flicker Frequency has a high specificity and moderate sensitivity for diagnosing minimal hepatic encephalopathy. Given the advantages of language independence and being both simple to perform and interpret, we suggest the use of critical flicker frequency as an adjunct (but not replacement) to psychometric testing.


Language: en

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