SUCCESSFUL LONG-TERM OUTPATIENT TREATMENT OF CHRONIC HEPATIC-ENCEPHALOPATHY BY INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION OF FLUMAZENIL

Treatment of chronic hepatic encephalopathy is difficult. Oral flumaze nil has been proposed for long-term treatment but is not presently ava laible on the market. We report the successful treatment of one case o f chronic hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhosis without precipitating fa ctors by low dose intravenous injections of flumazenil (Anexate(R), 1 mg/4 hours). Flumazenil is expensive and not always effective. We sugg est reserving this treatment to highly selected patients (without prec ipitating factor, or after failure of first choice treatment).