Efficacy of Rifaximin on Hepatosteatosis and Steatohepatitis Patients
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2014-02-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common cause of chronic liver disease, it
encompasses from simple steatosis to non alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and, eventually
leads to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Dysbiosis, over nutrition, life style,
type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and metabolic syndrome are main causes in the disease progression.
Research on the role of gut-liver axis in the pathogenesis of NAFLD has been slowly
accumulating over the past few years. Endotoxemia resulting from intestinal bacterial
overgrowth may contribute to the pathogenesis of NAFLD. So, intestinal microbiota (IM) serve
as a potential therapeutic target in NASH. In this regard, we have aimed to test the efficacy
of rifaximin against simple steatosis (NAFLD) and steatohepatitis (NASH) subjects in relation
to serum endotoxins and related pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. We hypothesis that
Rifaximin treatment may influence the endotoxin levels by modulating gut microbiota and
partial alleviate from NAFLD/NASH.