Add-on Therapeutic Effects of Rifaximin on Treatment-resistant Hepatic Encephalopathy

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Objective Rifaximin is used to treat hepatic encephalopathy. However, whether or not rifaximin and lactulose combination therapy can enhance the treatment outcomes and reduce the hospitalization rate of patients with hepatic encephalopathy that are resistant to lactulose has yet to be determined. The present study investigated the hospitalization rate before and after rifaximin add-on therapy in patients resistant to lactulose.

Methods A total of 36 patients who were resistant to lactulose with add-on rifaximin therapy were enrolled. Patients who were hospitalized and/or did not achieve normalization of ammonia levels under lactulose administration were defined as treatment-resistant. The primary outcome was the change in hospitalization rate due to hepatic encephalopathy at 24 weeks before and after rifaximin administration.

Results Before rifaximin administration, 15 (41.6%) patients were hospitalized due to hepatic encephalopathy. After rifaximin administration, 8 (22.2%) patients were hospitalized due to hepatic encephalopathy. The hospitalization rates were significantly reduced after rifaximin administration (p=0.02). The median (interquartile range) ammonia levels upon rifaximin administration (baseline) and 8, 12, and 24 weeks after rifaximin administration were 124 (24-310) μg/dL, 78 (15-192) μg/dL, 67 (21-233) μg/dL, and 77 (28-200) μg/dL, respectively. Furthermore, the ammonia levels were significantly reduced by rifaximin add-on therapy (p=0.005, p=0.01, and p=0.01).

Conclusion The addition of rifaximin to lactulose treatment in treatment-resistant patients decreases the hospitalization rate among patients with hepatic encephalopathy and may be used as an add-on treatment.