Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40378134›Full record

SynthesisPloS one2025

Efficacy and safety of rifaximin in preventing hepatic encephalopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Yangyang Hu, Xing Zhang, Ying Xiao, Zhinian Wu, Yadong Wang

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. [Novel targets and drugs for the treatment of portal hypertension in liver cirrhosis].Zhonghua gan zang bing za zhi = Zhonghua ganzangbing zazhi = Chinese journal of hepatology · 2026
    Review
  2. Review
  3. Reducing the Risk of Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy Recurrence: A Narrative Review.Journal of clinical and translational hepatology · 2026
    Review
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Yangyang HuDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Hebei Medical University Third Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China.
Xing ZhangDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Hebei Medical University Third Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China.
Ying XiaoDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Hebei Medical University Third Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China.
Zhinian WuDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Hebei Medical University Third Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China.
Yadong WangDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Hebei Medical University Third Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0140-0674

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Rifaximin (RFX) is recommended for the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). However, evidence on whether RFX application could yield additional benefits for preventing HE in patients with cirrhosis is limited. In this study, we aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of RFX in preventing HE. We conducted a systematic search of randomized controlled trials to evaluate the use of RFX by analyzing HE incidence, hospitalization, all-cause mortality, and adverse events. Compared with the control group, RFX had a beneficial effect on the primary prevention of HE (RR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.50-0.68), with noncomparable effects to NADs (including lactulose and lactitol, RR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.38-1.11), but more effective than placebo (RR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.47-0.69). After more than 1 month of RFX treatment, the risk of HE decreased significantly (RR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.47-0.65). In secondary prevention of HE, RFX decreased the recurrence risk (RR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.40-0.61). RFX helped to reduce the incidence of HE after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt (TIPSS) (RR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.51-0.96). In terms of adverse effects, RFX was associated with a lower risk of diarrhea than NADs (RR = 0.04, 95% CI: 0.00-0.25). So, RFX therapy is effective and well-tolerated in preventing HE, and can be used as the first choice in the prophylaxis of HE after TIPSS.

Indexed as

Hepatic EncephalopathyRifamycinsHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicRifaximinTreatment OutcomeRifamycinsRifaximin

Identifiers

PMID40378134
PMCPMC12083811

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.