Methods of treating hepatic encephalopathy
The application describes treatment of hepatic encephalopathy using gastrointestinal specific antibiotics. One example of a gastrointestinal specific antibiotic is rifaximin.
1. A method of increasing the time to development of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in a hepatic encephalopathy patient, comprising administering to the subject 550 mg of rifaximin to the subject two times per day (BID) daily for a period of about 12 months or longer.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising administering lactulose.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject has a Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) level between 1 and 24.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject has a Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) level less than or equal to ten.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject has a Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) level between 11 and 18.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject has a Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) level between 19 and 24.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject has a Conn score of 0 or 1.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein administration of the rifaximin reduces hospitalization frequency by from between about 13% to about 69%.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein there is a decrease in blood ammonia concentration from baseline after administration of the rifaximin to the subject.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein there is an increase in critical flicker frequency values from baseline after administration of the rifaximin to the subject.