ArticleWorld journal of hepatology2025
Rifaximin-α use is associated with improved muscle mass in patients with cirrhosis.
Article in World journal of hepatology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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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.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- CIRRHOSIS-ASSOCIATED SARCOPENIA: INTEGRATING IMAGING, FUNCTION, AND METABOLISM FOR CLINICAL DECISION-MAKING.Arquivos de gastroenterologia · 2026Review
- Rifaximin and sarcopenia in cirrhosis: Commentary on a promising but complex relationship.World journal of hepatology · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSarcopaenia is associated with a two-fold higher mortality rate in patients with cirrhosis independent of liver disease severity. Few treatments for cirrhosis related sarcopaenia exist beyond optimal nutritional management.
aimTo assess if rifaximin-α, a minimally absorbed antimicrobial used to manage hepatic encephalopathy (HE), may improve sarcopaenia in cirrhosis through its ammonia lowering and anti-inflammatory properties.
methodsThis single-centre retrospective cohort study of patients with prior HE compared patients treated with lactulose alone to those on combination therapy with rifaximin-α. The primary outcome was a change in skeletal muscle area (SMA) as measured by computed tomography over two time points. Secondary outcomes included episodes of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, variceal bleeding, and gastrointestinal
resultsOf the 142 patients included, 63 were on rifaximin-α [35% female, median age 57 (51, 62)], and 79 were on lactulose without rifaximin-α [20% female, median age 55 (51, 60)]. Univariate analysis for SMA found that male sex (
conclusionThis study demonstrates a significant independent association between rifaximin-α therapy and muscle mass in patients with cirrhosis and HE. Prospective studies of rifaximin-α therapy examining its impact on sarcopenia are required to assess its potential therapeutic role in this cohort.
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