Rifaximin plus lactulose versus lactulose alone for reducing the risk of HE recurrence
Arun J. Sanyal, Kris V. Kowdley, Nancy Reau, Nikolaos Pyrsopoulos, Christopher Allen, Zeev Heimanson, Jasmohan S. Bajaj
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aim was to examine rifaximin plus lactulose efficacy in patients with cirrhosis at a risk of developing overt HE who were stratified by important baseline characteristics such as comorbid ascites or diabetes. METHODS: Pooled post hoc subgroup analysis of adults receiving rifaximin 550 mg twice daily plus lactulose or lactulose alone for 6 months in a phase 3 randomized, double-blind trial and a phase 4 open-label trial was conducted. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Rifaximin plus lactulose was more efficacious than lactulose alone for reducing the risk of overt HE recurrence and HE-related hospitalization in adults grouped by select baseline disease characteristics.