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1: Gut. 1982 Jan;23(1):1-7.Click here to read Click here to read Links

Treatment of hepatic encephalopathy with metronidazole.

Neomycin, an antibiotic which is primarily active against the aerobic gut flora and hence reduces the endogenous production of ammonia, is a well-recognised form of treatment for acute or acute on chronic hepatic encephalopathy. This study suggests that metronidazole may be a useful alternative or even adjunctive treatment for such patients. Theoretical and practical justifications for the use of this drug are presented. The results of a week's prescription of each drug have been assessed by changes in clinical and biochemical criteria, including electroencephalograms and arterial ammonia sample. In the treatment of a series of 11 mildly or moderately, and seven severely affected, patients with histologically confirmed cirrhosis, metronidazole is shown to be as effective as neomycin.

PMID: 7035298 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

PMCID: PMC1419597