Rifaximin vs conventional oral therapy for hepatic encephalopathy: A meta-analysis

Table 3 Summary of the meta-analysis on psychometric outcomes measured at the end of each randomized controlled trial

Variable	Rifaximin			Control			Mean difference
	Mean	SD	Total	Mean	SD	Total	IV, random, 95% CI
Mental status
Bucci et al[35]	0.8	0.5	30	1.2	0.3	28	-0.40 [-0.61, -0.19]
Loguercio et al[39]	0.42	0.67	14	0.9	0.74	13	-0.48 [-1.01, 0.05]
Massa et al[18]	0.6	0.2	20	1.2	0.3	20	-0.60 [-0.76, -0.44]
Paik et al[21]	0.5	0.7	32	0.3	0.4	22	0.20 [-0.09, 0.49]
Parini et al[34]	0.22	0.39	15	0.16	0.34	15	0.06 [-0.20, 0.32]
Subtotal (95% CI)			111			98	-0.24 [-0.57, 0.08]
Heterogeneity: Tau² = 0.11; χ² = 32.85, df = 4 (P < 0.00001); I² = 88%
Test for overall effect: Z = 1.45 (P = 0.15)
Asterixis
Bucci et al[35]	0.5	0.3	30	0.9	0.5	28	-0.40 [-0.61, -0.19]
Mas et al[36]	0	0.5	50	0	0.5	53	0.00 [-0.19, 0.19]
Massa et al[18]	0.1	0.2	20	0.1	0.2	20	0.00 [-0.12, 0.12]
Paik et al[21]	0.3	0.7	32	0.4	0.6	22	-0.10 [-0.45, 0.25]
Parini et al[34]	0.28	0.5	15	0.16	0.04	15	0.12 [-0.13, 0.37]
Pedretti et al[25]	1.6	0.7	15	2	0.8	15	-0.40 [-0.94, 0.14]
Subtotal (95% CI)			162			153	-0.10 [-0.26, 0.07]
Heterogeneity: Tau² = 0.02; χ² = 14.47, df = 5 (P = 0.01); I² = 65%
Test for overall effect: Z = 1.15 (P = 0.25)
EEG
Bucci et al[35]	0.4	0.2	30	0.6	0.3	28	-0.20 [-0.33, -0.07]
Mas et al[36]	0.6	0.9	50	0.9	0.9	53	-0.30 [-0.65, 0.05]
Pedretti et al[25]	0.4	0.5	15	0.6	0.6	15	-0.20 [-0.60, 0.20]
Subtotal (95% CI)			95			96	-0.21 [-0.33, -0.09]
Heterogeneity: Tau² = 0.00; χ² = 0.28, df = 2 (P = 0.87); I² = 0%
Test for overall effect: Z = 3.52 (P = 0.0004)
PSE sum
Mas et al[36]	4	0.1	50	6	2	53	-2.00 [-2.54, -1.46]
Massa et al[18]	3	0.5	20	5.5	0.5	20	-2.50 [-2.81, -2.19]
Pedretti et al[25]	7.1	2.4	15	9.3	2.7	15	-2.20 [-4.03, -0.37]
Subtotal (95% CI)			85			88	-2.33 [-2.68, -1.98]
Heterogeneity: Tau² = 0.02; χ² = 2.52, df = 2 (P = 0.28); I² = 21%
Test for overall effect: Z = 13.11 (P < 0.00001)

IV: Inverse variance; EEG: Electroencephalogram; PSE: Portosystemic encephalopathy.