Abstract
Background and study aim: Modification of intestinal flora, through different mechanisms is regarded as a therapeutic option in management of hepatic encephalopathy. We conducted this study to test the ability of probiotics in treatment of early grades of hepatic encephalopathy in Egypt. Patients and methods: One-hundred educated cirrhotic patients without overt hepatic encephalopathy were included. Diagnosis of cirrhosis based on clinical, ultrasonographic and laboratory findings and patients were screened for grade I and minimal hepatic encephalopathy by psychometric tests. Hepatic encephalopathy was diagnosed if at least one of psychometric tests was abnormal. Thirty patients with abnormal psychometric tests were included in the final analysis. Acidophilus capsules and banana were given to all patients 30 minutes before meals 3 times daily for 2 weeks. Results : Minimal and grade I hepatic encephalopathy were found in thirty out of the one hundred screened patients (30%). Minimal and grade I hepatic encephalopathy were more common in Child class C, than in class B and A. Two weeks after Lactobacillus acidophilus intake, patients showed significant improvement in the performance of psychometric tests (P 0.05). Probiotics improved the clinical grades of hepatic encephalopathy; 96.7% (n=29) of patients showed improvement in clinical grade of hepatic encephalopathy and only one patient (3.3%) did not improve (P<0.05). Conclusion : Probiotics could be used to treat early grades of hepatic encephalopathy. Child classes and liver functions did not improve significantly after probiotic therapy.
Highlights
Probiotics have been defined as viable microorganisms that when ingested have a beneficial effect in the prevention and treatment of specific pathologic conditions [1]
It is a clinical syndrome with a wide range of variability extending from minimal impairment of intellectual function only detectable by psychometric testing- called minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) to profound coma with signs of decerebration
In the present work out of 100 educated patients with cirrhosis, 30 patients had HE by psychometric tests
Summary
Minimal and grade-I hepatic encephalopathy were found in thirty out of the one hundred screened patients (30%). Minimal and grade-I hepatic encephalopathy were more common in Child class C, than in class B and A. Two weeks after Lactobacillus acidophilus intake, patients showed significant improvement in the performance of psychometric tests (P0.05). Probiotics improved the clinical grades of hepatic encephalopathy; 96.7% (n=29) of patients showed improvement in clinical grade of hepatic encephalopathy and only one patient (3.3%) did not improve (P
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: Afro-Egyptian Journal of Infectious and Endemic Diseases
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.