Final answer:
Hepatic encephalopathy is a reversible neurological condition that occurs when the liver fails to properly detoxify the blood, leading to an accumulation of toxins and the subsequent onset of brain dysfunction. The correct answer is option D .
Step-by-step explanation:
Hepatic encephalopathy is a reversible neuropsychiatric condition that manifests as a result of liver failure, which may be either chronic, as seen in diseases such as cirrhosis, or acute, resulting from a severe and sudden malfunction of the liver. This condition illustrates the critical role of the liver in filtering and detoxifying the blood, and highlights the delicate balance within our organ systems. When the liver's function is impaired, toxic substances, like ammonia, that are normally removed from the circulation by the liver accumulate in the bloodstream and have the potential to cross the blood-brain barrier and impair brain function.
Acute liver failure may precipitate hepatic encephalopathy swiftly, in a timeline defined as 'hyperacute' when it occurs within 7 days of the first liver-related symptoms, or 'subacute' when it unfolds between 5-12 weeks. In contrast, chronic liver failure is typically associated with cirrhosis, a condition in which normal liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue over time due to various factors such as excessive alcohol consumption, viral hepatitis (B or C), or metabolic syndromes.
Cirrhosis results in the loss of liver function and the development of complications such as portal hypertension, which can lead to the bypassing of the liver's blood filtration function, exacerbating the potential for hepatic encephalopathy. In essence, whether the liver is diseased due to pathogens like viruses causing hepatitis, substances like alcohol, or metabolic dysfunctions resulting in conditions, such as haemochromatosis or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, the culmination of liver damage may result in hepatic encephalopathy if the condition progresses without adequate management.
To specifically answer the student's question, hepatic encephalopathy is a condition in which: d) Liver disease causes reduced brain function.