Rifaximin may prevent hepatic encephalopathy after TIPS placement for cirrhosis

Reuters Health - 04/02/2021 - The antibiotic rifaximin given before and after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement helped prevent hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in a placebo-controlled trial. "TIPS is a very effective treatment of portal hypertension-related complications of cirrhosis, but the main drawback of this procedure is the high incidence of post-TIPS HE that limits its use," Dr. Christophe Bureau of the University Hospital of Toulouse and Toulouse III Paul Sabiter University told Reuters Health by email. "Considering the safety profile of rifaximin and its ability to reduce the risk of post-TIPS HE, it should be used in patients treated with TIPS." As reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine, Dr. Bureau and colleagues randomly assigned 197 patients with cirrhosis (mean age, about 60; about 78% men) undergoing TIPS for intractable ascites or prevention of variceal rebleeding to receive rifaximin (600 mg twice daily) or placebo, begi...

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Posted on 4 February, 202116 February, 2021