Short-course Rifaximin therapy efficacy and lactulose hydrogen breath test in Chinese patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Gut microbiota alterations including small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) might play a role in pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Rifaximin could effectively and safely improve IBS symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of rifaximin on Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, quality of life (QOL) and SIBO eradication in Chinese IBS-D patients. METHODS:This study included 78 IBS-D patients defined by the Rome IV criteria. Patients received 400?mg rifaximin twice daily for 2?weeks and 10-week follow-up. GI symptoms were assessed at week 0, 2, 4, 8 and 12. QOL and lactulose hydrogen breath test (LHBT) results were estimated at week 0 and 4. RESULTS:All participants showed significant improvements in GI symptom subdomains after rifaximin treatment (all P??0.05). SIBO normalization after rifaximin treatment measured by LHBT was found in 44.4% (20/45) of patients with SIBO before treatment. CONCLUSION:A short course (2?weeks) of rifaximin improved GI symptoms and QOL in Chinese IBS-D patients whether they had SIBO or not. However, the efficacy of rifaximin could not be explained by the successful eradication of SIBO. Further studies on the therapeutic mechanisms of rifaximin in IBS are urgently needed.

SUBMITTER: Zhuang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7291629 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature