Cirrhosis, LiverPhase 3NCT04244877
Rifaximin's Effect on Covert Hepatic Encephalopathy With SIBO and Gastrointestinal Dysmotility
A Phase 3 study testing Rifaximin in people with Cirrhosis, Liver and Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy, run by MetroHealth Medical Center.
Trial summary
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) is a common and increasingly recognized disorder in cirrhosis (30% to 73%). One of the most important predisposing factors of SIBO is small bowel dysmotility. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 89 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Cirrhosis, Liver, Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy, Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
- What is being tested?
- Rifaximin
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 0 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 15 Sep 2021to 1 Dec 2023
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 89 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Cirrhosis patients between 18-89 years of age, without prior transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement or prior overt hepatic encephalopathy.
- Cirrhosis diagnosed on the basis of liver biopsy, liver stiffness measurement (Fibroscan) or radiological study.
- CHE diagnosis using pre-defined criteria [two of the following should be abnormal as compared to healthy controls: number connection test A/B (NCT-A/B), Digit Symbol Test (DST), or Block Design Test (BDT)] at least 2 months prior to the start of the study (beyond 2 standard deviation of normal). Testing will be carried out by a trained psychologist.
Who cannot join
- Known allergy to rifaximin / rifabutin / rifampin.
- Use of antibiotics within last 6 weeks
- Use of lactulose / lactitol, probiotics, L-ornithine- L -aspartate, zinc, metronidazole, or neomycin, within last 6 weeks
- Use of any drug known to affect gastro-intestinal motility within the previous 2 to 4 weeks (such as, Reglan, Erythromycin, or Domeperidone)
- Use of drugs such as opiates and antidepressants (except stable doses of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors)
- Patients deemed higher risk for capsule retention including a history of esophageal stricture or Zenker's diverticulum, partial or complete bowel obstruction, known fistulas, known large or numerous diverticula and dementia
Show all 22Show fewer
- Diseases associated with poor gastrointestinal motility such as uncontrolled diabetes (A1c > 8%), rheumatological disorders (such as scleroderma and mixed connective tissue disorders [MCT])
- History of gastrointestinal tract or abdominal surgery
- Spontaneous peritonitis or other severe infections
- Colonoscopy or enema treatment within 4 weeks
- Hepatic encephalopathy with clinical signs
- Inability to complete neuropsychiatric testing due to hearing loss, poor vision, etc.
- Poorly compliant patients
- Rifaximin - Pregnancy Category C- There are no adequate and well controlled studies in pregnant women. Rifaximin has been shown to be teratogenic in rats and rabbits at doses that caused maternal toxicity. Female study subjects of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test and agree to use an acceptable method of contraception throughout the study. Participants that are breastfeeding are excluded.
- Decompensated cirrhosis (i.e., history of variceal bleeding or ascites)
- Total bilirubin = 2mg/dL or albumin < 3.5g/dL or international normalized ratio (INR) > 1.7
- Patients with a calculated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) < 60mL/min/1.73m2
- Patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh score > 7)
- Patients with untreated viral hepatitis
- No prior episode of overt HE, not on therapy for overt HE, not on any psycho- active medications apart from stable doses of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors.
- No concurrent use of P-glycoprotein inhibitors (e.g., cyclosporine)
- Current abuse of alcohol or illicit drugs
About this study
Official title: Evaluation of the Therapeutic Effect of Rifaximin on Covert Hepatic Encephalopathy With Underlying Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth and Gastrointestinal Dysmotility in Liver Cirrhosis Patients
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) is a common and increasingly recognized disorder in cirrhosis (30% to 73%). One of the most important predisposing factors of SIBO is small bowel dysmotility. Multiple studies have shown that the presence of SIBO is strongly linked to the pathogenesis of Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy (MHE) also known as Covert Hepatic Encephalopathy (CHE). Consequently, altering and modulating the intestinal microbiota with ammonia-lowering agents and Rifaximin has been the target treatment strategy in CHE. The aim of this study is to determine the therapeutic effect of Rifaximin on patients with CHE and underlying SIBO while assessing the influence of Rifaximin on small bowel motility. In this prospective interventional study, 40 patients with liver cirrhosis will be screened for Covert Hepatic Encephalopathy (CHE) using neuro-psychometric tests. Patients diagnosed with CHE will undergo breath test (BT) for SIBO screening. Afterwards, wireless motility capsule (The SmartPill) will be performed in all patients with a positive BT. Thereafter, the cirrhotic patients diagnosed with CHE and SIBO will receive Rifaximin 550 mg PO twice daily for eight weeks. At the end of treatment, neuro-psychometric tests will be repeated to evaluate the therapeutic effect on CHE. In addition, BT and SmartPill will be repeated at the completion of the Rifaximin treatment period to assess the effect on small bowel motility. All collected clinical parameters at the end of the study will be compared to baseline values.
Read the detailed description
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a common and an increasingly recognized disorder in liver cirrhosis, correlating with its severity. The prevalence of SIBO, assessed by the quantification of the bacterial density in the small intestinal aspirate, ranges from 30% to 73%. Multiple physiological derangements leading to SIBO appear in cirrhosis from decreased secretion of gastric acid, impaired mucosal immune response to decreased bile acid, and more importantly, intestinal dysmotility. The latter remains the most common predisposing factor in the pathogenesis of bacterial overgrowth. A recent pilot study using a wireless motility capsule (the SmartPill) demonstrated that patients with cirrhosis have significant delays in small bowel transit that is more pronounced in those with more severe liver disease. Altered small bowel motility in cirrhosis has been attributed to autonomic dysfunction, altered levels of circulating neuropeptides and the effects of inflammatory mediators on gut muscle and the enteric nervous system.
Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE) is a spectrum of neuro-cognitive impairment in cirrhosis that range from abnormal neuropsychiatric testing without clinical evidence of disease (Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy[MHE]) to varying degrees of overt clinical findings: Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy (OHE). MHE is found in 30-84% of patients with liver cirrhosis. The neuro-cognitive deficit noted in MHE could predispose patient to impaired quality of life (QOL) which translates into lower QOL scores, higher risk of falls, driving problems and difficulties maintaining employment. Previous studies have shown that SIBO is prevalent and strongly linked to the pathogenesis of MHE. Consequently, altering and modulating the intestinal microbiota with ammonia-lowering and gut-selective agents has been the target treatment strategy. Multiple prior studies have evaluated Rifaximin efficacy in MHE and have shown improvements across a variety of study clinical end points including neuropsychiatric and QOL tests. However, the precise mechanism of action of Rifaximin in MHE is unclear. The proposed mechanisms by which Rifaximin may lead to improvement of MHE may be beyond the bactericidal/bacteriostatic effect, resulting in changes in bacterial metabolic function/virulence, to an anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory effect.
The investigators hypothesize that Rifaximin may have an additional effect on small bowel motility that may be independent of its effect on bacterial overgrowth. The effect may not be necessarily through changes in patient's microbiome but rather through a pro-motility mechanism. The investigators intend to test this hypothesis by comparing the motility at baseline in cirrhotic patients with MHE and clinically significant portal hypertension, before and after treatment of SIBO with Rifaximin.
Aims:
- To determine the therapeutic effect of Rifaximin on patients with CHE and underlying SIBO and as it is related to small bowel motility.
- To determine the effect of Rifaximin on small bowel motility by using the SmartPill.
Study Design:
This is a prospective and interventional study. It will be conducted at the Gastroenterology and Hepatology outpatient clinics of MetroHealth Medical Center/Case Western Reserve University. Approximately 40 patients with liver cirrhosis will be assessed for eligibility by their hepatologist. Eligible patients will be referred to an expert psychologist for neuro-psychometric testing to confirm CHE. Then the patients with diagnosed with CHE will undergo Glucose Hydrogen Breath Test (BT) for SIBO screening. Subsequently, wireless motility capsule (the SmartPill) for motility testing will be performed in all patients with positive BT. Thereafter, cirrhotic patients diagnosed with both CHE and SIBO will be prescribed Rifaximin 550 mg PO twice daily for eight weeks. At the end of the treatment period, neuro-psychometric tests will be repeated to evaluate the therapeutic effect on CHE. In addition, BT and the SmartPill will be repeated at the completion of the treatment period with Rifaximin in order to assess the effect on small bowel motility.
- Conditions
- Cirrhosis, Liver, Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy, Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, Gastrointestinal Motility Disorder
- Being tested
- Rifaximin
- Medical subject headings
- Liver Cirrhosis
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
RifaximinDrug
Also called Xifaxan
Drug: Rifaximin tablet
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Rifaximin | Experimental | Rifaximin 550 mg by mouth twice daily for eight weeks. Receives: Drug: Rifaximin |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Comparing the effects of Rifaximin on patients with covert hepatic encephalopathy (CHE) and SIBO using neuropsychometric test (NST) and glucose hydrogen breath test (BT) after 8 weeks of Rifaximin.
The percent of subjects with improvement on Portosystemic Encephalopathy Syndrome test (PSE) after taking Rifaximin for 8 weeks. The percent of subjects who test negative on glucose breath test (BT) after treatment with Rifaximin.
Measured: 8 weeks
Secondary outcomes (1)
Improvement in small bowel motility in subjects taking Rifaximin
The percent of patients with improvement in small bowel motility as measured by the SmartPill after taking Rifaximin for 8 weeks
Measured: 8 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted28 Jan 2020
- Study start15 Sep 2021
- Primary completion1 May 2023
- Study completion1 Dec 2023
Why it stopped: Study was unable to recruit participants..
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (19)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Cirrhosis, LiverStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 0 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- MetroHealth Medical Center
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, RONNIE FASS, MetroHealth Medical Center
- Investigators
- Ronnie Fass, MD, Principal investigator, Metrohealth Medical Center/Case Western Reserve University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04244877
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB17-00550
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 27 Dec 2019
- Last updated
- 24 Dec 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Bauer TM, Schwacha H, Steinbruckner B, Brinkmann FE, Ditzen AK, Kist M, Blum HE. Diagnosis of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in patients with cirrhosis of the liver: poor performance of the glucose breath hydrogen test. J Hepatol. 2000 Sep;33(3):382-6. doi: 10.1016/s0168-8278(00)80273-1.
PubMed 11019993Giannelli V, Di Gregorio V, Iebba V, Giusto M, Schippa S, Merli M, Thalheimer U. Microbiota and the gut-liver axis: bacterial translocation, inflammation and infection in cirrhosis. World J Gastroenterol. 2014 Dec 7;20(45):16795-810. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i45.16795.
PubMed 25492994Quigley EM, Stanton C, Murphy EF. The gut microbiota and the liver. Pathophysiological and clinical implications. J Hepatol. 2013 May;58(5):1020-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2012.11.023. Epub 2012 Nov 23. No abstract available.
PubMed 23183530Thalheimer U, De Iorio F, Capra F, del Mar Lleo M, Zuliani V, Ghidini V, Tafi MC, Caburlotto G, Gennari M, Burroughs AK, Vantini I. Altered intestinal function precedes the appearance of bacterial DNA in serum and ascites in patients with cirrhosis: a pilot study. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2010 Oct;22(10):1228-34. doi: 10.1097/MEG.0b013e32833b4b03.
PubMed 20512041Kakiyama G, Pandak WM, Gillevet PM, Hylemon PB, Heuman DM, Daita K, Takei H, Muto A, Nittono H, Ridlon JM, White MB, Noble NA, Monteith P, Fuchs M, Thacker LR, Sikaroodi M, Bajaj JS. Modulation of the fecal bile acid profile by gut microbiota in cirrhosis. J Hepatol. 2013 May;58(5):949-55. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2013.01.003. Epub 2013 Jan 16.
PubMed 23333527Chander Roland B, Garcia-Tsao G, Ciarleglio MM, Deng Y, Sheth A. Decompensated cirrhotics have slower intestinal transit times as compared with compensated cirrhotics and healthy controls. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2013 Nov-Dec;47(10):888-93. doi: 10.1097/MCG.0b013e31829006bb.
PubMed 23632359Maheshwari A, Thuluvath PJ. Autonomic neuropathy may be associated with delayed orocaecal transit time in patients with cirrhosis. Auton Neurosci. 2005 Mar 31;118(1-2):135-9. doi: 10.1016/j.autneu.2005.02.003.
PubMed 15795187Fein BI, Holt PR. Hepatobiliary complications of total parenteral nutrition. J Clin Gastroenterol. 1994 Jan;18(1):62-6. doi: 10.1097/00004836-199401000-00015.
PubMed 8113589Groeneweg M, Quero JC, De Bruijn I, Hartmann IJ, Essink-bot ML, Hop WC, Schalm SW. Subclinical hepatic encephalopathy impairs daily functioning. Hepatology. 1998 Jul;28(1):45-9. doi: 10.1002/hep.510280108.
PubMed 9657095Shawcross DL, Wright G, Olde Damink SW, Jalan R. Role of ammonia and inflammation in minimal hepatic encephalopathy. Metab Brain Dis. 2007 Mar;22(1):125-38. doi: 10.1007/s11011-006-9042-1.
PubMed 17260161Randolph C, Hilsabeck R, Kato A, Kharbanda P, Li YY, Mapelli D, Ravdin LD, Romero-Gomez M, Stracciari A, Weissenborn K; International Society for Hepatic Encephalopathy and Nitrogen Metabolism (ISHEN). Neuropsychological assessment of hepatic encephalopathy: ISHEN practice guidelines. Liver Int. 2009 May;29(5):629-35. doi: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2009.02009.x. Epub 2009 Mar 19.
PubMed 19302444Simren M, Stotzer PO. Use and abuse of hydrogen breath tests. Gut. 2006 Mar;55(3):297-303. doi: 10.1136/gut.2005.075127.
PubMed 16474100Saad RJ, Hasler WL. A technical review and clinical assessment of the wireless motility capsule. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2011 Dec;7(12):795-804.
PubMed 22347818Pande C, Kumar A, Sarin SK. Small-intestinal bacterial overgrowth in cirrhosis is related to the severity of liver disease. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2009 Jun 15;29(12):1273-81. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2009.03994.x. Epub 2009 Mar 6.
PubMed 19302262Zhang Y, Feng Y, Cao B, Tian Q. Effects of SIBO and rifaximin therapy on MHE caused by hepatic cirrhosis. Int J Clin Exp Med. 2015 Feb 15;8(2):2954-7. eCollection 2015.
PubMed 25932262
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 24 Dec 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Evaluation of the Therapeutic Effect of Rifaximin on Covert Hepatic Encephalopathy With Underlying Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth and Gastrointestinal Dysmotility in Liver Cirrhosis Patients
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04244877
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IRB17-00550
- Conditions
- Cirrhosis, Liver, Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy, Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, Gastrointestinal Motility Disorder
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- WithdrawnReason stopped: Study was unable to recruit participants..
- Enrolment
- 0 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- MetroHealth Medical CenterUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Sep 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 May 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Dec 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 28 Jan 2020 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) is a common and increasingly recognized disorder in cirrhosis (30% to 73%). One of the most important predisposing factors of SIBO is small bowel dysmotility. Multiple studies have shown that the presence of SIBO is strongly linked to the pathogenesis of Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy (MHE) also known as Covert Hepatic Encephalopathy (CHE). Consequently, altering and modulating the intestinal microbiota with ammonia-lowering agents and Rifaximin has been the target treatment strategy in CHE. The aim of this study is to determine the therapeutic effect of Rifaximin on patients with CHE and underlying SIBO while assessing the influence of Rifaximin on small bowel motility. In this prospective interventional study, 40 patients with liver cirrhosis will be screened for Covert Hepatic Encephalopathy (CHE) using neuro-psychometric tests. Patients diagnosed with CHE will undergo breath test (BT) for SIBO screening. Afterwards, wireless motility capsule (The SmartPill) will be performed in all patients with a positive BT. Thereafter, the cirrhotic patients diagnosed with CHE and SIBO will receive Rifaximin 550 mg PO twice daily for eight weeks. At the end of treatment, neuro-psychometric tests will be repeated to evaluate the therapeutic effect on CHE. In addition, BT and SmartPill will be repeated at the completion of the Rifaximin treatment period to assess the effect on small bowel motility. All collected clinical parameters at the end of the study will be compared to baseline values.
Detailed description
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a common and an increasingly recognized disorder in liver cirrhosis, correlating with its severity. The prevalence of SIBO, assessed by the quantification of the bacterial density in the small intestinal aspirate, ranges from 30% to 73%. Multiple physiological derangements leading to SIBO appear in cirrhosis from decreased secretion of gastric acid, impaired mucosal immune response to decreased bile acid, and more importantly, intestinal dysmotility. The latter remains the most common predisposing factor in the pathogenesis of bacterial overgrowth. A recent pilot study using a wireless motility capsule (the SmartPill) demonstrated that patients with cirrhosis have significant delays in small bowel transit that is more pronounced in those with more severe liver disease. Altered small bowel motility in cirrhosis has been attributed to autonomic dysfunction, altered levels of circulating neuropeptides and the effects of inflammatory mediators on gut muscle and the enteric nervous system.
Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE) is a spectrum of neuro-cognitive impairment in cirrhosis that range from abnormal neuropsychiatric testing without clinical evidence of disease (Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy[MHE]) to varying degrees of overt clinical findings: Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy (OHE). MHE is found in 30-84% of patients with liver cirrhosis. The neuro-cognitive deficit noted in MHE could predispose patient to impaired quality of life (QOL) which translates into lower QOL scores, higher risk of falls, driving problems and difficulties maintaining employment. Previous studies have shown that SIBO is prevalent and strongly linked to the pathogenesis of MHE. Consequently, altering and modulating the intestinal microbiota with ammonia-lowering and gut-selective agents has been the target treatment strategy. Multiple prior studies have evaluated Rifaximin efficacy in MHE and have shown improvements across a variety of study clinical end points including neuropsychiatric and QOL tests. However, the precise mechanism of action of Rifaximin in MHE is unclear. The proposed mechanisms by which Rifaximin may lead to improvement of MHE may be beyond the bactericidal/bacteriostatic effect, resulting in changes in bacterial metabolic function/virulence, to an anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory effect.
The investigators hypothesize that Rifaximin may have an additional effect on small bowel motility that may be independent of its effect on bacterial overgrowth. The effect may not be necessarily through changes in patient's microbiome but rather through a pro-motility mechanism. The investigators intend to test this hypothesis by comparing the motility at baseline in cirrhotic patients with MHE and clinically significant portal hypertension, before and after treatment of SIBO with Rifaximin.
Aims:
- To determine the therapeutic effect of Rifaximin on patients with CHE and underlying SIBO and as it is related to small bowel motility.
- To determine the effect of Rifaximin on small bowel motility by using the SmartPill.
Study Design:
This is a prospective and interventional study. It will be conducted at the Gastroenterology and Hepatology outpatient clinics of MetroHealth Medical Center/Case Western Reserve University. Approximately 40 patients with liver cirrhosis will be assessed for eligibility by their hepatologist. Eligible patients will be referred to an expert psychologist for neuro-psychometric testing to confirm CHE. Then the patients with diagnosed with CHE will undergo Glucose Hydrogen Breath Test (BT) for SIBO screening. Subsequently, wireless motility capsule (the SmartPill) for motility testing will be performed in all patients with positive BT. Thereafter, cirrhotic patients diagnosed with both CHE and SIBO will be prescribed Rifaximin 550 mg PO twice daily for eight weeks. At the end of the treatment period, neuro-psychometric tests will be repeated to evaluate the therapeutic effect on CHE. In addition, BT and the SmartPill will be repeated at the completion of the treatment period with Rifaximin in order to assess the effect on small bowel motility.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Rifaximin | Experimental | Drug: RifaximinRifaximin 550 mg by mouth twice daily for eight weeks. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 89 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Cirrhosis patients between 18-89 years of age, without prior transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement or prior overt hepatic encephalopathy.
- Cirrhosis diagnosed on the basis of liver biopsy, liver stiffness measurement (Fibroscan) or radiological study.
- CHE diagnosis using pre-defined criteria [two of the following should be abnormal as compared to healthy controls: number connection test A/B (NCT-A/B), Digit Symbol Test (DST), or Block Design Test (BDT)] at least 2 months prior to the start of the study (beyond 2 standard deviation of normal). Testing will be carried out by a trained psychologist.
Key exclusion criteria (22 listed)
- Known allergy to rifaximin / rifabutin / rifampin.
- Use of antibiotics within last 6 weeks
- Use of lactulose / lactitol, probiotics, L-ornithine- L -aspartate, zinc, metronidazole, or neomycin, within last 6 weeks
- Use of any drug known to affect gastro-intestinal motility within the previous 2 to 4 weeks (such as, Reglan, Erythromycin, or Domeperidone)
- Use of drugs such as opiates and antidepressants (except stable doses of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| RifaximinAlso: XifaxanDrug: Rifaximin tablet | Drug | Rifaximin |
Primary outcome
Comparing the effects of Rifaximin on patients with covert hepatic encephalopathy (CHE) and SIBO using neuropsychometric test (NST) and glucose hydrogen breath test (BT) after 8 weeks of Rifaximin.
Time frame: 8 weeks
The percent of subjects with improvement on Portosystemic Encephalopathy Syndrome test (PSE) after taking Rifaximin for 8 weeks. The percent of subjects who test negative on glucose breath test (BT) after treatment with Rifaximin.
1 secondary outcome
Improvement in small bowel motility in subjects taking Rifaximin
Time frame: 8 weeks
Results and safety
The study was withdrawn before enrolling participants, so there are no results.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 24 Dec 2025.
- Background: PubMed 11019993Bauer TM, Schwacha H, Steinbruckner B, Brinkmann FE, Ditzen AK, Kist M, Blum HE. Diagnosis of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in patients with cirrhosis of the liver: poor performance of the glucose breath hydrogen test. J Hepatol. 2000 Sep;33(3):382-6. doi: 10.1016/s0168-8278(00)80273-1.
- Background: PubMed 25492994Giannelli V, Di Gregorio V, Iebba V, Giusto M, Schippa S, Merli M, Thalheimer U. Microbiota and the gut-liver axis: bacterial translocation, inflammation and infection in cirrhosis. World J Gastroenterol. 2014 Dec 7;20(45):16795-810. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i45.16795.
- Background: PubMed 23183530Quigley EM, Stanton C, Murphy EF. The gut microbiota and the liver. Pathophysiological and clinical implications. J Hepatol. 2013 May;58(5):1020-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2012.11.023. Epub 2012 Nov 23. No abstract available.
- Background: PubMed 20512041Thalheimer U, De Iorio F, Capra F, del Mar Lleo M, Zuliani V, Ghidini V, Tafi MC, Caburlotto G, Gennari M, Burroughs AK, Vantini I. Altered intestinal function precedes the appearance of bacterial DNA in serum and ascites in patients with cirrhosis: a pilot study. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2010 Oct;22(10):1228-34. doi: 10.1097/MEG.0b013e32833b4b03.
- Background: PubMed 23333527Kakiyama G, Pandak WM, Gillevet PM, Hylemon PB, Heuman DM, Daita K, Takei H, Muto A, Nittono H, Ridlon JM, White MB, Noble NA, Monteith P, Fuchs M, Thacker LR, Sikaroodi M, Bajaj JS. Modulation of the fecal bile acid profile by gut microbiota in cirrhosis. J Hepatol. 2013 May;58(5):949-55. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2013.01.003. Epub 2013 Jan 16.
- Background: PubMed 23632359Chander Roland B, Garcia-Tsao G, Ciarleglio MM, Deng Y, Sheth A. Decompensated cirrhotics have slower intestinal transit times as compared with compensated cirrhotics and healthy controls. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2013 Nov-Dec;47(10):888-93. doi: 10.1097/MCG.0b013e31829006bb.
- Background: PubMed 15795187Maheshwari A, Thuluvath PJ. Autonomic neuropathy may be associated with delayed orocaecal transit time in patients with cirrhosis. Auton Neurosci. 2005 Mar 31;118(1-2):135-9. doi: 10.1016/j.autneu.2005.02.003.
- Background: PubMed 8113589Fein BI, Holt PR. Hepatobiliary complications of total parenteral nutrition. J Clin Gastroenterol. 1994 Jan;18(1):62-6. doi: 10.1097/00004836-199401000-00015.
- Background: PubMed 9657095Groeneweg M, Quero JC, De Bruijn I, Hartmann IJ, Essink-bot ML, Hop WC, Schalm SW. Subclinical hepatic encephalopathy impairs daily functioning. Hepatology. 1998 Jul;28(1):45-9. doi: 10.1002/hep.510280108.
- Background: PubMed 17260161Shawcross DL, Wright G, Olde Damink SW, Jalan R. Role of ammonia and inflammation in minimal hepatic encephalopathy. Metab Brain Dis. 2007 Mar;22(1):125-38. doi: 10.1007/s11011-006-9042-1.
- Background: PubMed 19302444Randolph C, Hilsabeck R, Kato A, Kharbanda P, Li YY, Mapelli D, Ravdin LD, Romero-Gomez M, Stracciari A, Weissenborn K; International Society for Hepatic Encephalopathy and Nitrogen Metabolism (ISHEN). Neuropsychological assessment of hepatic encephalopathy: ISHEN practice guidelines. Liver Int. 2009 May;29(5):629-35. doi: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2009.02009.x. Epub 2009 Mar 19.
- Background: PubMed 16474100Simren M, Stotzer PO. Use and abuse of hydrogen breath tests. Gut. 2006 Mar;55(3):297-303. doi: 10.1136/gut.2005.075127.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Ronnie Fass, MD principal investigator
Metrohealth Medical Center/Case Western Reserve University
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 3 study testing Rifaximin in people with Cirrhosis, Liver and Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy, run by MetroHealth Medical Center.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 22 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: withdrawn, as of the sponsor's last update on 24 Dec 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
The study was withdrawn before enrolling participants, so there are no results.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Comparing the effects of Rifaximin on patients with covert hepatic encephalopathy (CHE) and SIBO using neuropsychometric test (NST) and glucose hydrogen breath test (BT) after 8 weeks of Rifaximin. (time frame: 8 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04244877, which also lists 19 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 24 Dec 2025.