Rifaximin in Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy

Completed · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Hepatic Encephalopathy

In brief

The purpose of this study is to determine whether alteration of gut flora with rifaximin can lead to improvement in driving performance, psychometric test performance, and quality of life in patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) and cirrhosis in a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT00533910

Run by

Hunter Holmes Mcguire Veteran Affairs Medical Center

People needed

42

Starts

2007-10-01

Expected to finish

2010-05-01

Last updated by the study team

2020-12-17

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Age 18-65 years
• Cirrhosis diagnosed on clinical grounds
• MHE diagnosed by abnormalities in a psychometric battery (NCT-A, NCT-B, ICT BDT and DST impaired beyond 2 standard deviations of known control values on any of the above 3 tests will be considered to have MHE)
• Current drivers (valid driving license and driving at least 20 miles/week)
• All women of child-bearing potential will be required to use effective contraception

You may not qualify if…

• Current or recent (< 6 month) use of alcohol (AUDIT questionnaire will be used; any cirrhotic with a value of > 0 will be excluded) and a positive blood alcohol level
• Use of antibiotics within last 6 weeks
• Allergy to rifaximin, rifabutin, rifampin, or rifapentine
• Infection or gastrointestinal hemorrhage within the last 6 weeks
• Renal insufficiency
• Hepatocellular carcinoma
• Psychoactive drug use, including interferon concurrently
• Non-drivers and those who drive less than 20 miles/week
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Excluding patients with OHE:
• Detailed neurological examination to check for dysarthria, asterixis, ataxia and disorientation
• Detailed history-taking from friends/relatives only after taking the patient's permission
• Mini-mental status examination > 25
• Episode of overt (clinical hepatic encephalopathy) within 6 months
• Current treatment with lactulose, rifaximin, zinc, or metronidazole

Where it is running

• Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center — Richmond, Virginia, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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