Efficacy and Safety of Short-term Administration of Rifaximin in the Treatment of Hepatic Encephalopathy

Korean J Hepatol > Volume 7(1); 2001 > Article

The Korean Journal of Hepatology 2001;7(1): 55-60.

원저 / 간성 뇌증의 치료로서 Rifaximin ( Normix ) 단기간 투여의 효능과 안전성 ( Efficacy and Safety of Short-term Administration of Rifaximin in the Treatment of Hepatic Encephalopathy )

Efficacy and Safety of Short-term Administration of Rifaximin in the Treatment of Hepatic Encephalopathy

Myoung Hwan Kim, M.D., Kwang Hyub Han, M.D., Kwan Sik Lee, M.D., Yong Han Paik, M.D., Kun Hoon Song, M.D., Ho Kyun Na, M.D., Byung Soo Moon, M.D., Suk Hwa Yoon, R.N1 ., Chae Yoon Chon, M.D., Young Myoung Moon, M.D. In Suh Park, M.D.

Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Gastroenterololgy1 Yonsei University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

ABSTRACT

Background/Aims
A prospective, randomized study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the short-term administration of rifaximin in the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy. Methods: Of the 64 patients diagnosed as having decompensated liver cirrhosis with hepatic encephalopathy, 39 patients were randomized to receive rifaximin and 25 patients to receive lactulose for seven days. Before and after the treatment we assessed changes in the level of serum ammonia, flapping tremor, patient's mental status, number connection test (NCT), and hepatic encephalopathy indices. Results: In rifaximin-treated group, the mean grade of serum ammonia (1.8→0.9), mental status (1.3→0.3), NCT (3.0→2.0), and flapping tremor (1.7→0.4) were improved after treatment. In the lactulose-treated group, the mean grade of serum ammonia (1.9→1.0), mental status (1.5→0.5), NCT (3.3→2.1), and flapping tremor (1.4→0.3) were improved after treatment. Side effects of abdominal pain (rifaximin group) and excessive diarrhea (lactulose group) were noted in 2 cases. The efficacy of treatment was not significantly different between rifaximin and lactulose-treated groups (84.3% vs. 95.3%). Conclusion: Rifaximin was as efficient and safe in the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy as lactulose in terms of efficacy. Rifaximin may be useful drug for the short-term treatment of hepatic encephalopathy.(Korean J Hepatol 2001;7:55-60)

KeyWords: Rifaximin, Hepatic encephalopathy