Secondary Prophylaxis of Hepatic Encephalopathy in Cirrhosis

• Status: Unknown status
• Trial end date: 2010-09-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE), a challenging complication of advanced liver disease, occurs in approximately 30-45% of patients with cirrhosis. The treatment of choice is non-absorbable disaccharides, such as lactulose and lactitol.Probiotics are effective in the treatment of minimal hepatic encephalopathy which precipitates hepatic encephalopathy. The investigators will assess the effects of lactulose and probiotics for the prevention of recurrence of HE (secondary prophylaxis) in patients after the recovery of an episode of overt hepatic encephalopathy.

• Phase: Phase 4
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital
• Treatments: Lactulose

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with cirrhosis and previous history of recovery from hepatic encephalopathy

Exclusion Criteria:

• history of taking lactulose in the past 6 weeks.

• alcohol intake during the past 6 weeks or during follow up

• patients on secondary prophylaxis for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

• previous TIPS or shunt surgery

• significant comorbid illness such as heart, respiratory, or renal failure

• any neurologic diseases such as alzheimer's disease, parkinson's disease and nonhepatic metabolic encephalopathies.