A Rare Complication of Cirrhosis: Hepatic Myelopathy

Abstract

Introduction: Hepatic myelopathy is characterized by spastic paraparesis and minimal sensory abnormalities in patients with cirrhosis, particularly those with portosystemic shunts that have been created surgically or have occurred spontaneously. Materials and methods: We described a patient who presented with spastic paraparesis and diagnosed as hepatic myelopathy when all the other possible diagnoses were ruled out with a review of literature in the goal of promoting prompt recognition and enhancing understanding of HM. Results: We reported a patient aged 51 years who presented with spastic paraparesis with insidious onset and progressive course and diagnosed as hepatic myelopathy. Conclusion: Unlike hepatic encephalopathy, hepatic myelopathy is usually considered irreversible.