Table 2.
Risk factors for insufficient improvement of serum ammonia after rifaximin treatment
| Category | HR (95%CI) | P value |
| Univariate analysis | ||
| Age (yr at MRE) | ||
| < 70 | 1 | |
| ≥ 70 | 2.2 (0.56-8.7) | 0.26 |
| Sex | ||
| female | 1 | |
| male | 0.491 (0.128-1.88) | 0.30 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | ||
| < 28 | 1 | |
| ≥ 28 | 0.42 (0.094-1.85) | 0.25 |
| AST (IU/L) | ||
| < 36 | 1 | |
| ≥ 36 | 0.372 (0.094-1.47) | 0.16 |
| ALT (IU/L) | ||
| < 30 | 1 | |
| ≥ 30 | 0.43 (0.11-1.7) | 0.23 |
| GGTP (IU/L)a | ||
| < 42 | 1 | |
| ≥ 42 | 0.71 (0.18-2.87) | 0.64 |
| Albumin (g/dL) | ||
| ≥ 3.0 | 1 | |
| < 3.0 | 3.3 (0.83-13) | 0.091 |
| Total bilirubin (mg/dL) | ||
| < 1.4 | 1 | |
| ≥ 1.4 | 3.0 (0.76-12) | 0.12 |
| Platelet count (×103/μL) | ||
| ≥ 6.8 | 1 | |
| < 6.8 | 4.1 (0.67-25) | 0.13 |
| Prothrombin activity (%) | ||
| < 58 | 1 | 0.13 |
| ≥ 58 | 3.0 (0.72-13) | |
| AFP (ng/mL) | ||
| < 6.5 | 1 | |
| ≥ 6.5 | 3.25 (0.55-19) | 0.20 |
| DCP (mAU/mL) | ||
| < 18 | 1 | |
| ≥ 18 | 3.6 (0.57-23) | 0.17 |
| Ascites | ||
| Absent | 1 | 0.16 |
| Present | 2.5 (0.70-8.8) | |
| Esophageal varices | ||
| Absent | 1 | 0.42 |
| Present | 1.8 (0.43-7.5) | |
| History of hepatic encephalopathy | ||
| Absent | 1 | 0.11 |
| Present | 3.6 (0.77-16) | |
| HCC1 | ||
| Absent | 1 | 0.72 |
| Present | 0.75 (0.16-3.6) | |
| Sarcopenia | ||
| Absent | 1 | 0.49 |
| Present | 1.64 (0.41-6.6) | |
| Child-Pugh Score | 0.061 | |
| < 7 | 1 | |
| ≥ 7 | 3.9 (0.94-16) | |
| ALBI Score | ||
| < -1.6 | 1 | |
| ≥ -1.6 | 5.3 (1.1-25) | 0.033 |
| MELD Score | ||
| < 12 | 1 | 0.13 |
| ≥ 12 | 3.0 (0.72-13) | |
| Fibrosis 4 index | ||
| < 8.3 | 1 | |
| ≥ 8.3 | 0.42 (0.094-1.9) | 0.25 |
| MRE (kPa) | ||
| < 5.0 | 1 | 0.43 |
| ≥ 5.0 | 1.63 (0.40-8.3) | |
| SWE (kPa) | ||
| < 17.7 | 1 | |
| ≥ 17.7 | 3.0 (0.65-14) | 0.16 |
| Max diameter of portosystemic shunt | ||
| < 8.0 | 1 | |
| ≥ 8.0 | 6.8 (1.4-33) | 0.017 |
| Number of portosystemic shunt systems | ||
| 0,1 | 1 | 0.68 |
| 2-4 | 1.36 (0.32-5.9) | |
| Multivariate analysis | ||
| Max diameter of portosystemic shunt | ||
| < 8.0 | 1 | |
| ≥ 8.0 | 5.5 (1.1-28) | 0.039 |
| ALBI Score | 0.16 | |
| < -1.6 | 1 | |
| ≥ -1.6 | 3.3 (0.62-18) |
BMI: Body mass index; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; GGTP: Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase; AFP: Alpha fetoprotein; DCP: Des-gamma carboxyprothrombin; HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma; MELD Score: Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score; ALBI Score: Albumin-bilirubin score; MRE: Magnetic resonance elastography; SWE: Shear wave elastography.