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.
D000368:Aged; D000641:Ammonia / Q000097:blood; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009355:Neomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011897:Random Allocation
D008795:Metronidazole; D000641:Ammonia; D009355:Neomycin