Background: Rifaximin, a nonsystemic antibiotic, may be used alone or in combination with lactulose for reducing the risk of overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE) recurrence in adults. This analysis evaluated rifaximin alone and rifaximin + lactulose (combination) on health-related quality of life (QOL) and caregiver burden in patients with a history of OHE. Methods: In a [...]

Background: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a common neurological complication in patients with cirrhosis. In addition to numerous morbidity-related issues, HE is associated with substantial economic burden. Treatment includes lactulose or rifaximin, a nonsystemic antibiotic that is indicated for reducing the risk of overt HE recurrence in adults. Rifaximin has also been shown to reduce the [...]