Efficacy of long-term rifaximin treatment for hepatic encephalopathy in the Japanese

Table 1 Patient baseline characteristics

	Rifaximin (n = 38)	Control (n = 38)	P value
Age (yr)	69 (40-85)	69.5 (42-90)	0.934
Sex (female/male)	17 (44.7%)/21 (55.3%)	11 (28.9%)/27 (71.1%)	0.234
BMI (kg/m2)	24.78(18.67-35.88)	23.1 (15.5-30.1)	0.035
Etiology (HBV/HCV/Alcohol/NASH)	7 (18.4%)/5 (13.2%)/13 (34.2%)/5 (13.2%)	4 (10.5%)/14 (36.8%)/9 (23.7%)/3 (7.9%)	0.107
Child-Pugh A/B/C	15 (39.5%)/15 (39.5%)/8 (21.1%)	20 (52.6%)/ 17 (44.7%)/1 (2.6%)	0.051
ALBI Grade	1(2.6%) /27 (71.1%) /10 (26.3%)	22 (57.9%)/15 (39.5%)/1(2.6%)	< 0.001
MELD Score1	6 (2-17)	9 (0-22)	0.205
ALT (IU/L)1	24.5 (8.0-105.0)	31.5 (8.0-1490)	0.109
AST (IU/L)1	39.5 (20.0-136.0)	45 (15-1041)	0.426
GGTP (IU/L)1	35.5 (11.0-558.0)	64 (14-506)	0.055
Serum ammonia	104 (59-297)	52 (23-89)	< 0.001
Albumin (g/dL)1	3.0 (2.1-4.4)	4.05 (2.4-5.0)	< 0.001
Total bilirubin (mg/dL)1	1.65 (0.4-4.7)	1.0 (0.4-8.6)	0.002
Platelet count (×103/μL)1	8.7 (4.8-27.9)	12.3 (2.3-30.2)	0.023
Prothrombin activity (%)	60 (38-133)	69 (14-108)	0.066
AFP (ng/mL)1	4.3 (1.0-3375)	6.25 (1.3-385.5)	0.065
DCP (mAU/mL)1	37 (15-3178)	25 (11-11688)	0.383
Fibrosis 4 index1	5.61 (1.71-15.1)	4.25 (1.2-33.4)	0.117
MRE (kPa)1	5.04 (3.00-11.11)	4.86 (3.36-12.50)	0.748
SWE (kPa)1	23.1 (8.3-56)	16.8 (7.0-36.8)	< 0.001
History of overt hepatic encephalopathy	12 (31.6%)	0 (0%)	< 0.001
HCC	9 (23.7%)	12 (31.6%)	0.442
Ascites	11 (29.0%)	10 (26.3%)	0.834
Esophageal varices	27 (71.1%)	23 (60.5%)	0.469
Max diameter of portosystemic shunts (mm)	7.6 (1.7-18.5)	4.2 (1.6-10.9)	< 0.001
Number of portosystemic shunts (0,1/2-)	8 (22.2%)/28 (77.8%)	24 (63.2%)/14 (36.8%)	0.001
Lactulose	29 (76.3%)	6 (15.8%)	< 0.001
BCAA	24 (63.2%)	14 (36.8%)	0.038
Sarcopenia	17 (44.7%)	17 (44.7%)	1
Follow up period (wk)1	61 (24-91)	91 (5-120)	< 0.001

¹Values are expressed as median (range). BMI: Body mass index; HBV: Hepatitis B virus; HCV: Hepatitis C virus; NASH: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; ALBI score: Albumin bilirubin score; MELD score: Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; GGTP: Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase; AFP: Alpha fetoprotein; DCP: Des-gamma carboxyprothrombin; MRE: Magnetic resonance elastography; SWE: Shear wave elastography; HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma; BCAA: Branched-chain amino acid.