New Study Shows Rifaximin Significantly Reduced the Number and Length of Hospitalisations in Patients With Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE) Awaiting Liver Transplatation

AMSTERDAM, June 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --

• Rifaximin significantly reduced the incidence of all-cause hospital admissions in HE patients with advanced cirrhosis on the waiting list for liver transplantation
• Rifaximin contributed to improved outcomes in HE patients on the waiting list helping patients stay out of hospital for longer

Norgine B.V. highlighted results of an independent, investigator initiated trial showing significant reductions in the number and length of hospital admissions when rifaximin is used to treat end-stage liver disease patients with overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE).^[1] 

The real world study published today in the peer-reviewed journal Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics showed that rifaximin, when prescribed for the treatment of acute or chronic HE, or for secondary prevention of HE in patients with advanced cirrhosis who are on the waiting list for liver transplantation, significantly reduced the incidence of all-cause hospital admissions (mean length of stay: 9 days; 95%CI 6-12 in rifaximin-treated patients vs. 14 days; 95%CI 7-21 in the naïve group). This included serious medical complications such as spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (an acute infection in the abdomen that occurs without warning or a clear cause), ascites (an abnormal build-up of fluid in the abdomen that can cause infection) and variceal bleeding (dilated blood vessels in the oesophagus or stomach that can cause internal bleeding). On average, HE patients on the transplant waiting list who did not receive rifaximin tended to stay 5 days longer in hospital when admitted due to complications.^[1]   

Patients on rifaximin also avoided re-hospitalisation for longer and were less likely to require urgent liver transplantation due to deterioration of their condition (odds ratio 0.29; 95% CI 0.89-0.93).^[1]   

"End-stage liver disease patients already have a poor prognosis and low quality of life; hepatic encephalopathy is a further devastating complication. This study demonstrates the potential value of rifaximin for those vulnerable patients and its impact on improving outcomes and reducing the need for hospitalisation," said Dr. Debbie Shawcross, Lead Investigator of the study, Reader and Honorary Consultant in Hepatology at the Department of Liver Sciences, King's College London.