Fig 1.
PRISMA flow chart of the systematic review that represents our literature review process.
PRISMA, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.
Table 1.
Characteristics of total included studies for the meta-analysis.
Fig 2.
Forest plot for estimating the association of circulatory ammonia and HE.
A random-effect model was used to compare the standardized mean difference of ammonia between groups. The below funnel plot represents potential publication bias in the study. HE: Hepatic encephalopathy.
Fig 3.
Forest plot for estimating the association of circulatory ammonia and type of HE.
A random-effect model was used to compare the standardized mean difference of ammonia between groups. Comparing average levels of ammonia between cirrhotic patients without HE and cirrhotic patients with minimal HE (a), cirrhotic patients with covert HE (b), and cirrhotic patients with overt HE (c). Funnel plots represent potential publication bias. HE: Hepatic encephalopathy.
Fig 4.
Forest plot for estimating the standardized mean difference of circulatory creatinine (a), albumin (b) and sodium (c) between control and HE groups. A random-effect model was used in the meta-analysis. Funnel plots represent potential publication bias.
Fig 5.
Forest plot for estimating the standardized mean difference of IL-6 (a), and TNFα (b) between control and HE groups. Funnel plots represent potential publication bias.