EVALUATION OF RIFAXIMIN IN MANAGEMENT OF HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Egypt.

2 Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.

Abstract

This study evaluated the efficacy of rifaximin versus lactulose in the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). The study population included 50 patients who were diagnosed to have signs of the first to third degree HE, according to the West Haven criteria and classified into two groups. GI: included 25 patients who had HE and were treated with lactulose syrup (laxolac) 90 ml daily divided into 3 doses for 7 days. GII: included 25 patients who had HE and were treated with rifaximin 1200 mg daily divided into 3 doses for 7 days. Patients in both groups also received other measures of treatment of HE as daily enema and protein restriction. Rifaximin significantly improved various subjective and measurable components of HE including mental status, behavior, asterixis, and serum ammonia concentration. In acute HE of grade 1 to grade 3, rifaximin may be a good alternative to non-absorbable disaccharides as it is broad spectrum, non-absorbable antibiotic with rapid action and little side effects. It is better tolerated, associated with less frequent and shorter hospitalization in comparison to lactulose.

Keywords

Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology
Volume 44, Issue 3
December 2014
Pages 677-685

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