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CompletedNCT02009592Updated May 16, 2014

Efficacy of Rifaximin on Hepatosteatosis and Steatohepatitis Patients

An interventional study of Rifaximin in Fatty Liver and Steatohepatitis, sponsored by Bezmialem Vakif University. Completed at 1 site in Turkey. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 70 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2014-05-16.

Sponsored by Bezmialem Vakif University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
42
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 70 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common cause of chronic liver disease, it encompasses from simple steatosis to non alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and, eventually leads to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Dysbiosis, over nutrition, life style, type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and metabolic syndrome are main causes in the disease progression. Research on the role of gut-liver axis in the pathogenesis of NAFLD has been slowly accumulating over the past few years. Endotoxemia resulting from intestinal bacterial overgrowth may contribute to the pathogenesis of NAFLD. So, intestinal microbiota (IM) serve as a potential therapeutic target in NASH. In this regard, we have aimed to test the efficacy of rifaximin against simple steatosis (NAFLD) and steatohepatitis (NASH) subjects in relation to serum endotoxins and related pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. We hypothesis that Rifaximin treatment may influence the endotoxin levels by modulating gut microbiota and partial alleviate from NAFLD/NASH.

Read the detailed description

Study area:

This prospective study conducted from July 2013 to March 2014 at Bezmialem Vakif University School of Medicine in the Department of Gastroenterology.

Subjects and methods:

Patients between the ages of 18-70, irrespective of gender referred to the gastroenterology clinics for persistently elevated liver enzymes, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and clinical suspicion of NAFLD selected for this study. During the initial visit, patients are invited to participate in this study. After providing written informed consent, these patients received a detailed medical history, physical examination, Age, sex, BMI, waist circumference and appropriate laboratory tests will be made. Ultrasonography (US) examination takes place before biopsy.

Endotoxins and Pro-Inflammatory cytokine assays:

These assays are going to perform by using following ELISA kits. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12 obtained from EBIOSCİENCE company. LAL chromogenic end point assay kit obtained from HYCULT company and toll like receptor (TLR)-4 assay kit obtained from USCN company.

Statistical Analysis:

Statistical calculations 'Statistical Package for Social Sciences' (SPSS) software package for Windows 16 computer program was used. Descriptive statistics when numeric data as mean ± standard deviation, proportional data were used as the number and percentage rates. Independent samples t-test to compare the groups, and the chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for statistical analysis. P \<0.05 will be considered as the limit of statistical significance.

02

Conditions studied

  • Fatty Liver
  • Steatohepatitis

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Keywords

  • Hepatosteatosis
  • Steatohepatitis
  • Rifaximin
  • Inflammatory cytokines
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In context

Fatty Liver

1,451 studies on the registry are indexed under Fatty Liver; 292 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 42 is below the median of 60 across 1,003 interventional studies indexed under Fatty Liver.

Browse Fatty Liver studies →

Lead sponsor

Bezmialem Vakif University is the lead sponsor of 345 studies on the registry; 58 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 70 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:Patients between the ages of 18-70, irrespective of gender referred to the gastroenterology clinics for persistently elevated liver enzymes, obesity, T2DM (Type 2 diabetes mellitus) and clinical suspicion of NAFLD selected for this study

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Exclusion Criteria:

Allergy for Rifaximin, pregnant women and lactating women, other liver diseases such as viral hepatitis, autoimmune liver diseases, drug induced liver diseases, pancreas-biliary tract and liver-related documented diseases (pancreatitis, stone pouch on the biliary colic pains, acute cholecystitis, choledocholithiasis, hepatobiliary cancers etc.,). Hit-defined psychiatric illness, excessive alcohol intake (who consume >20g/day ) were excluded from this study.

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Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
42 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Hepatosteatosis

    Rifaximin was given to patients with hepatosteatosis in the doses of 3x2 daily, 200 mg tablets for 4 weeks.

    Drug: Rifaximin

  • Active comparator
    Steatohepatitis

    Rifaximin was given to patients with steatohepatitis patients in the doses of 3x2 daily, 200 mg tablets for 4 weeks.

    Drug: Rifaximin

Interventions

  • DrugRifaximin

    Both arms receive Rifaximin

    Also known as: Colidur 200 mg tablets

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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Drop in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increase in anti-inflammatory cytokines

    Rifaximin treatment to both patient groups at the dose of 1200 mg/daily for 28 days. Blood samples obtain from all patients at 0 day, 14th day, 28th day and 60th day and collect serum for the analysis of the endotoxins and pro-inflammatory cytokines -TLR-4, TNF-α, IL-1 α, IL-6, IL-10 \& IL-12 levels.

    Time frame: 1 month

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Study locations

1 site
  • Bezmialem Vakif University
    Istanbul, 34093, Turkey
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References and documents

Publications

  • Day CP. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: current concepts and management strategies. Clin Med (Lond). 2006 Jan-Feb;6(1):19-25. doi: 10.7861/clinmedicine.6-1-19. PubMed 16521351 ↗
  • Kalambokis GN, Mouzaki A, Rodi M, Tsianos EV. Rifaximin improves thrombocytopenia in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis in association with reduction of endotoxaemia. Liver Int. 2012 Mar;32(3):467-75. doi: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2011.02650.x. Epub 2011 Sep 26. PubMed 22098272 ↗
  • Vlachogiannakos J, Saveriadis AS, Viazis N, Theodoropoulos I, Foudoulis K, Manolakopoulos S, Raptis S, Karamanolis DG. Intestinal decontamination improves liver haemodynamics in patients with alcohol-related decompensated cirrhosis. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2009 May 1;29(9):992-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2009.03958.x. Epub 2009 Feb 7. PubMed 19210289 ↗
  • Diamant M, Blaak EE, de Vos WM. Do nutrient-gut-microbiota interactions play a role in human obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes? Obes Rev. 2011 Apr;12(4):272-81. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2010.00797.x. Epub 2010 Aug 26. PubMed 20804522 ↗
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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on May 16, 2014, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02009592
Lead sponsor
Bezmialem Vakif University
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Dec 12, 2013
Start date
Jun 2013
Primary completion
Jan 2014
Completion
Feb 2014
Last update
May 16, 2014

Study contacts

Hakan Şenturk, Prof. Dr.
principal investigator · Director of the Gastroenterology unit

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in May 2014. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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