Evaluation of the Long-term Administration of Rifaximin for More than Three Years in the Treatment of Repeated and Recurrent Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy.

Abstract

The patient was a 65-year-old man with alcoholic liver cirrhosis who had been admitted to hospital 5 times for repeated and recurrent overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE) despite numerous therapies, including disaccharide, branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) formula, L-carnitine and zinc. After the additional administration of rifaximin (1,200 mg/day orally), his consciousness level was well controlled for 3 years without any adverse effects. The long-term administration of rifaximin may be useful and safe for managing recurrent overt HE, although the maintenance dosage and duration of rifaximin and safety should be evaluated in patients with ameliorated HE.

• Authors: Yudai Fujiwara, Kazuyuki Suzuki, Kenji Yusa, Makoto Eizuka, Manami Miura, Yuki Watanabe, Hiroshi Takahashi, Yasuhiro Takikawa
• Journal: Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan) (Intern Med) Vol. 60 Issue 7 Pg. 1027-1033 ( 2021) ISSN: 1349-7235 [Electronic] Japan
• PMID: 33790139 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Amino Acids, Branched-Chain
• Rifaximin

Topics

• Aged
• Amino Acids, Branched-Chain
• Hepatic Encephalopathy (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Liver Cirrhosis (complications, drug therapy)
• Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic
• Long-Term Care
• Male
• Rifaximin