EVALUATION OF EFFICACY OF RIFAXIMIN IN THE TREATMENT OF HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY IN PATIENTS WITH CIRRHOSIS

Background: Cirrhosis is a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. It is also a frequent cause of hospital admissions. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of rifaximin and lactulose versus lactulose alone for the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy. Material Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted at Medical Unit A, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan. Duration of the study was six months August 12, 2014 to February 11, 2015 in which a total of 122 patients were observed with 61 patients in each group. Consecutive, non-probability sampling technique was used for sample collection. Results: Our study shows that mean age of the patients in Group A (rifaximin plus lactulose) was 50±2.31 years, while mean age of the patients in Group B (lactulose alone) was 52±2.78 years. In Group A 48% patients were males and 52% patients females while in Group B 45% patients were males and 55% females. Regarding the efficacy, rifaximin plus lactulose was effective in 45(74%) patients while lactulose alone was effective in 32(53%) patients with hepatic encephalopathy. Conclusion: Lactulose plus rifaximin orally is more effective than lactulose alone in the treatment of acute hepatic encephalopathy