Table 2.
Rifaximin for Hepatic Encephalopathy.
| Trial | Study design | No of patients | Duration of treatment | Assessment | Efficacy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Festi et al27 | Lactulose (open-label) | 21 | 21 | Neurological signs of HE, asterixis score, HRNB, EEG, ammonia levels | Rifaximin = lactulose |
| Massa et al28 | Lactulose (double-blind) | 40 | 15 | HE index severity, mental status, cancellation tasks, HRNB, EEG | Rifaximin > lactulose |
| Mas et al29 | Lactitol (double-blind) | 103 | 5–10 days | Mental status, asterixis score, EEG, ammonia levels, PSE index, psychometric tests | Rifaximin = lactitol |
| Paik et al30 | Lactulose (open-label) | 54 | 7 days | Ammonia levels, flapping tremor, mental status, HE index, psychometric tests | Rifaximin = lactitol |
| Jiang et al31 | Meta-analysis | 264 | – | – | Rifaximin = disaccharides |
| Eltawil et al32 | Meta-analysis | 565 | – | – | Rifaximin = disaccharides |