Table 4.
Effects of rifaximin (RFX) on liver/neuropsychological functions in patients with hepatic encephalopathy
| Parameter | Baseline | Two weeks after RFX treatment | Mean difference (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| n | 7 | 7 | |
| NCT‐A, s | 49.7 (19.5) | 35.3 (11.3) | −14.4 (−23.67, −5.08)† |
| NCT‐B, s | 104.3 (56.7) | 77.0 (52.6)‡ | −14.7 (−35.321, 6.021) |
| Digit symbol test, counts | 10.1 (3.8) | 13.1 (4.7) | 3.0 (0.80, 5.20)† |
| Asterixis score, 0/1/2 | 3 (42.9%)/ | 6 (85.7%)/ | |
| 3 (42.9%)/ | 1 (14.3%)/ | ||
| 1 (14.3%) | 0 (0.0%) | ||
| PSE index | 0.37 (0.12.) | 0.26 (0.06) | −0.1 (−0.210, −0.007)† |
| MELD score | 9.6 (4.04) | 10.7 (4.27) | 1.14 (−2.39, 0.10) |
| PT‐INR | 1.39 (0.26) | 1.45 (0.29) | 0.1 (0.001, 0.119)† |
| Platelet count, ×104/μL | 9.33 (4.29) | 8.40 (3.99) | −0.93 (−0.683, 2.54) |
| Blood ammonia concentration, μg/dL | 119.7 (34.6) | 132.1 (35.0) | 12.4 (−34.54, 59.39) |
| Total protein, g/dL | 6.9 (1.2) | 6.8 (0.8) | −0.1 (−0.54, 0.40) |
| Albumin, g/dL | 3.0 (0.6) | 3.1 (0.5) | 0.1 (−0.19, 0.36) |
| Total bilirubin, mg/dL | 2.1 (1.1) | 2.1 (1.5) | 0.0 (−0.75, 0.69) |
| AST, U/L | 51.9 (33.2) | 55.7 (37.8) | 3.9 (−3.59, 11.30) |
| ALT, U/L | 34.0 (24.4) | 34.7 (25.7) | 0.7 (−3.71, 5.14) |
| ALP, U/L | 387.0 (111.6) | 359.9 (96.7) | −27.1 (−94.97, 40.68) |
| γ‐GTP, U/L | 48.9 (53.8) | 43.6 (46.7) | −5.3 (−12.54, 1.97) |
| Creatinine, mg/dL | 0.79 (0.25) | 0.86 (0.27) | 0.07 (−0.12, −0.02)† |
| BCAA to tyrosine ratio | 2.69 (1.04) | 2.38 (0.66) | −0.3 (−1.029, 0.403) |
Data are expressed as mean (standard deviation or rate of subjects).
†
95% confidence interval (CI) does not include zero.
‡
n = 6.
γ‐GTP, γ‐glutamyl transpeptidase; ALP, alkaline phosphatase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; BCAA, branched‐chain amino acid; MELD, Model for End‐stage Liver Disease; NCT, number connection test; PSE, portal systemic encephalopathy; PT‐INR, prothrombin time – international normalized ratio.