Evaluation of Rifaximin in Management of Hepatic Encephalopathy (original) (raw)
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Safety, efficacy, and patient acceptability of rifaximin for hepatic encephalopathy
Patient Preference and Adherence, 2014
Hepatic encephalopathy is a complex disease entity ranging from mild cognitive dysfunction to deep coma. Traditionally, treatment has focused on a reduction of ammonia through a reduced production, absorption, or clearance. Rifaximin is a nonabsorbable antibiotic, which reduces the production of ammonia by gut bacteria and, to some extent, other toxic derivatives from the gut. Clinical trials show that these effects improve episodes of hepatic encephalopathy. A large randomized trial found that rifaximin prevents recurrent episodes of hepatic encephalopathy. Most patients were treated concurrently with lactulose. Trials have varied greatly in design, outcomes, and duration of treatment regimes. Although a number of retrospective studies have indicated that long-term treatment with rifaximin is safe and possibly beneficial, high quality trials are needed to further clarify efficacy and safety of long-term treatment with rifaximin and evaluate effects of combination therapy with lactulose and branched-chain amino acids for patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy.
Journal of Hepatology, 2003
Background/Aims: The efficacy and safety of rifaximin in comparison with lactitol in the treatment of acute hepatic encephalopathy was assessed in a prospective randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, controlled trial. Methods: A total of 103 patients with grade I-III acute hepatic encephalopathy were randomized to receive rifaximin (50 patients, 1200 mg/day) or lactitol (53 patients, 60 g/day) for 5-10 days. Changes in the portal-systemic encephalopathy (PSE) index on entry and at the end of the study were used to evaluate the efficacy of the two therapies. Results: Both groups were comparable before treatment with regard to demographic data and characteristics of the hepatic encephalopathy episode. The global efficacy of both therapies was similar: 81.6% in the rifaximin group and 80.4% in the lactitol group showed improvement or total regression of the episode. A significantly better evolution of the PSE index was observed in the rifaximin group, due to a greater effect of rifaximin in two components of the index: EEG abnormalities and ammonia levels. No serious adverse events related to either treatment were found during the study. Conclusions: Rifaximin may be considered a useful and safe alternative therapy to lactitol in the treatment of acute hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhosis.
Yonsei Medical Journal, 2005
Rifaximin has been reported to be effective for the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in Europe. However, it is unknown whether Rifaximin is effective for the treatment of HE in Koreans, therefore we conducted a open-label prospective randomized study to evaluate the efficacy of rifaximin versus lactulose in Korean patients. Fifty-four patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy were enrolled. Thirty-two patients were randomized to receive rifaximin and 22 to receive lactulose both over a 7-day periods. Before and at the end of treatment, gradation of blood ammonia, flapping tremor, mental status, number connection test (NCT) were performed and estimation of HE indexes determined. Both rifaximin and lactulose were effective in the majority of patients (84.4% and 95.4%, respectively, p=0.315). Blood NH3, flapping tremor, mental status, and NCT was significantly improved by rifaximin and lactulose, and the posttreatment levels of these measures were similar for the rifaximin and lactulose-treated groups, as was the HE index (rifaximin group (10.0 4.2, p=0.000); lactulose group (11.3 5.0, p=0.000)). One patient treated with rifaximin complained of abdominal pain, which was easily controlled. There was no episode of renal function impairment in either treatment group. Rifaximin proved to be as safe and as effective as lactulose for the treatment of Korean patients with hepatic encephalopathy.
Journal of Rawalpindi Medical College, 2020
Background: Hepatic Encephalopathy is a syndrome observed in patients with liver cirrhosis. Various treatment modalities are in use for treatment of Porto Systemic Encephalopathy (PSE). Our study aimed to compare the efficacy of Rifaximin plus Lactulose vs.Lactulose alone in treating Hepatic Encephalopathy in local population. Materials & Methods: The study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital recruiting decompensated chronic liver disease(DCLD) patients with PSE. Using simple random sampling, patients were divided in two groups (A & B). Patients in group A received Lactulose plus Rifaximin while group B received Lactulose alone. Efficacy of treatment was assessed as return of the conscious level to pre-encephalopathy state as per clinical examination within 1 week after start of the treatment. Results: A total of 124 patients were included in the study with each group (A & B) containing 62 patients. Frequency and percentage of efficacy among group A (Rifaximin plus Lactulose)...
Rifaximin in the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy
Hepatic Medicine: Evidence and Research, 2011
Hepatic encephalopathy is a challenging complication in patients with advanced liver disease. It can be defined as a neuropsychiatric syndrome caused by portosystemic venous shunting, ranging from minimal to overt hepatic encephalopathy or coma. Its pathophysiology is still unclear, although increased levels of ammonia play a key role. Diagnosis of hepatic encephalopathy is currently based on specific tests evaluating the neuropsychiatric state of patients and their quality of life; the severity of hepatic encephalopathy is measured by the West Haven criteria. Treatment of hepatic encephalopathy consists of pharmacological and corrective measures, as well as nutritional interventions. Rifaximin received approval for the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy in 2010 because of its few side effects and pharmacological benefits. The aim of this work is to review the use and efficacy of rifaximin both in acute and long-term management of hepatic encephalopathy. Treatment of overt hepatic encephalopathy involves management of the acute episode as well as maintenance of remission in those patients who have previously experienced an episode, in order to improve their quality of life. The positive effect of rifaximin in reducing health care costs is also discussed.
Rifaximin for the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy
American Journal of Health-system Pharmacy, 2008
Hepatic encephalopathy is a challenging complication in patients with advanced liver disease. It can be defined as a neuropsychiatric syndrome caused by portosystemic venous shunting, ranging from minimal to overt hepatic encephalopathy or coma. Its pathophysiology is still unclear, although increased levels of ammonia play a key role. Diagnosis of hepatic encephalopathy is currently based on specific tests evaluating the neuropsychiatric state of patients and their quality of life; the severity of hepatic encephalopathy is measured by the West Haven criteria. Treatment of hepatic encephalopathy consists of pharmacological and corrective measures, as well as nutritional interventions. Rifaximin received approval for the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy in 2010 because of its few side effects and pharmacological benefits. The aim of this work is to review the use and efficacy of rifaximin both in acute and long-term management of hepatic encephalopathy. Treatment of overt hepatic encephalopathy involves management of the acute episode as well as maintenance of remission in those patients who have previously experienced an episode, in order to improve their quality of life. The positive effect of rifaximin in reducing health care costs is also discussed.
Efficacy of Rifaximin in Hepatic Encephalopathy
2018
Background: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is among the commonest complications to present in the medical emergencies due to chronic liver disease (CLD). Multiple regimens have been tried and newer antibiotic like Rifaximin is under extensive discussion regarding its management. Objective: To determine the efficacy of rifaximin in cases of chronic liver disease presenting with hepatic encephalopathy. Methodology: In this descriptive cases series study, which was conducted at Department of Medicine, st st Services Hospital, Lahore from 1 July to 31 December 2016. The cases of both genders with age range of 30–70 years, having CLD (Child Pugh Class B & C) and acute hepatic encephalopathy of grade II or more irrespective of the cause were included in this study. The cases with other co morbid conditions like DM, hypertension, renal or cardiac failure and those taking sedative, were excluded from this study. Hepatic encephalopathy was labeled according to the West Haven Criteria. The cases...
Management of Hepatic Encephalopathy: Role of Rifaximin
Chemotherapy, 2005
Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a neuropsychiatric syndrome, which develops in patients with acute or chronic liver failure. It is widely accepted to be due to impairment of hepatic clearance of toxic products from the gut such as ammonia. Accumulation of ammonia induces a glutamate neurotoxicity leading to an increased tone of the γ-aminobutyric acid A (GABA-A) receptor system in the brain which results in HE. Factors either increasing the ammonia levels (protein load, constipation, sepsis, or gastrointestinal bleeding) or potentiating the functional activity of the GABAergic system [natural benzodiazepine-like compounds (NBZDs) or exogenous benzodiazepines] may act as precipitating factors of HE. NBZDs are present in trace amounts in the blood of normal subjects and have been found to be increased in the blood of patients with liver cirrhosis, with or without HE. These compounds may derive either from the diet since they have been found in plants, vegetables and animals or from gut...
Hepatology research : the official journal of the Japan Society of Hepatology, 2017
The efficacy and safety of rifaximin in the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) are widely known, but they have not been confirmed in Japanese patients with HE. Thus, two prospective, randomized studies (a phase II/III study and a phase III study) were carried out. Subjects with grade I or II HE and hyperammonemia were enrolled. The phase II/III study, which was a randomized, evaluator-blinded, active-comparator, parallel-group study, was undertaken at 37 institutions in Japan. Treatment periods were 14 days. Eligible patients were randomized to the rifaximin group (1200 mg/day) or the lactitol group (18-36 g/day). The phase III study was carried out in the same patients previously enrolled in the phase II/III study, and they were all treated with rifaximin (1200 mg/day) for 10 weeks. In the phase II/III study, 172 patients were enrolled. Blood ammonia (B-NH) concentration was significantly improved in the rifaximin group, but the difference between the two groups was not signi...
Gomal Journal of Medical Sciences, 2016
Background: Cirrhosis is a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. It is also a frequent cause of hospital admissions. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of rifaximin and lactulose versus lactulose alone for the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy. Material & Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted at Medical Unit A, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan. Duration of the study was six months in which a total of 122 patients were observed with 61 patients in each group. Consecutive, non-probability sampling technique was used for sample collection. Results: Our study shows that mean age of the patients in Group A (rifaximin plus lactulose) was 50±2.31 years, while mean age of the patients in Group B (lactulose alone) was 52±2.78 years. In Group A 48% patients were males and 52% patients females while in Group B 45% patients were males and 55% females. Regarding the efficacy, rifaximin plus lactulose was effective in 45(74%) pati...