Retrospective Cohort Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2019.
World J Hepatol. Jun 27, 2019; 11(6): 531-541
Published online Jun 27, 2019. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v11.i6.531
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/C15 (39.5%)/15 (39.5%)/8 (21.1%)20 (52.6%)/ 17 (44.7%)/1 (2.6%)0.051
ALBI Grade1(2.6%) /27 (71.1%) /10 (26.3%)22 (57.9%)/15 (39.5%)/1(2.6%)< 0.001
MELD Score16 (2-17)9 (0-22)0.205
ALT (IU/L)124.5 (8.0-105.0)31.5 (8.0-1490)0.109
AST (IU/L)139.5 (20.0-136.0)45 (15-1041)0.426
GGTP (IU/L)135.5 (11.0-558.0)64 (14-506)0.055
Serum ammonia104 (59-297)52 (23-89)< 0.001
Albumin (g/dL)13.0 (2.1-4.4)4.05 (2.4-5.0)< 0.001
Total bilirubin (mg/dL)11.65 (0.4-4.7)1.0 (0.4-8.6)0.002
Platelet count (×103/μL)18.7 (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)14.3 (1.0-3375)6.25 (1.3-385.5)0.065
DCP (mAU/mL)137 (15-3178)25 (11-11688)0.383
Fibrosis 4 index15.61 (1.71-15.1)4.25 (1.2-33.4)0.117
MRE (kPa)15.04 (3.00-11.11)4.86 (3.36-12.50)0.748
SWE (kPa)123.1 (8.3-56)16.8 (7.0-36.8)< 0.001
History of overt hepatic encephalopathy12 (31.6%)0 (0%)< 0.001
HCC9 (23.7%)12 (31.6%)0.442
Ascites11 (29.0%)10 (26.3%)0.834
Esophageal varices27 (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
Lactulose29 (76.3%)6 (15.8%)< 0.001
BCAA24 (63.2%)14 (36.8%)0.038
Sarcopenia17 (44.7%)17 (44.7%)1
Follow up period (wk)161 (24-91)91 (5-120)< 0.001
Table 2 Risk factors for insufficient improvement of serum ammonia after rifaximin treatment
CategoryHR (95%CI)P value
Univariate analysis
Age (yr at MRE)
< 701
≥ 702.2 (0.56-8.7)0.26
Sex
female1
male0.491 (0.128-1.88)0.30
BMI (kg/m2)
< 281
≥ 280.42 (0.094-1.85)0.25
AST (IU/L)
< 361
≥ 360.372 (0.094-1.47)0.16
ALT (IU/L)
< 301
≥ 300.43 (0.11-1.7)0.23
GGTP (IU/L)a
< 421
≥ 420.71 (0.18-2.87)0.64
Albumin (g/dL)
≥ 3.01
< 3.03.3 (0.83-13)0.091
Total bilirubin (mg/dL)
< 1.41
≥ 1.43.0 (0.76-12)0.12
Platelet count (×103/μL)
≥ 6.81
< 6.84.1 (0.67-25)0.13
Prothrombin activity (%)
< 5810.13
≥ 583.0 (0.72-13)
AFP (ng/mL)
< 6.51
≥ 6.53.25 (0.55-19)0.20
DCP (mAU/mL)
< 181
≥ 183.6 (0.57-23)0.17
Ascites
Absent10.16
Present2.5 (0.70-8.8)
Esophageal varices
Absent10.42
Present1.8 (0.43-7.5)
History of hepatic encephalopathy
Absent10.11
Present3.6 (0.77-16)
HCC1
Absent10.72
Present0.75 (0.16-3.6)
Sarcopenia
Absent10.49
Present1.64 (0.41-6.6)
Child-Pugh Score0.061
< 71
≥ 73.9 (0.94-16)
ALBI Score
< -1.61
≥ -1.65.3 (1.1-25)0.033
MELD Score
< 1210.13
≥ 123.0 (0.72-13)
Fibrosis 4 index
< 8.31
≥ 8.30.42 (0.094-1.9)0.25
MRE (kPa)
< 5.010.43
≥ 5.01.63 (0.40-8.3)
SWE (kPa)
< 17.71
≥ 17.73.0 (0.65-14)0.16
Max diameter of portosystemic shunt
< 8.01
≥ 8.06.8 (1.4-33)0.017
Number of portosystemic shunt systems
0,110.68
2-41.36 (0.32-5.9)
Multivariate analysis
Max diameter of portosystemic shunt
< 8.01
≥ 8.05.5 (1.1-28)0.039
ALBI Score0.16
< -1.61
≥ -1.63.3 (0.62-18)