Efficacy of rifaximine in intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome in patients after cholecystectomy

Abstract

Aim. To define frequency of onset of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome (SIBOGS) in patients with postcholecystomy syndrome (PCS); to substantiate necessity of microflora correction and assess efficacy of rifaximine in the doses 800 and 1200 mg/day. Material and methods. A breath hydrogen test (BHT) was made in 82 PCS patients. Rifaximine was given to 40 SIBOGS patients: 20 of them received the drug in a dose 800 mg/day and 20 - in a dose 1200 mg/day for 7 days. The efficacy was estimated by attenuation of the clinical symptoms and parameters of BHT. Results. SIBOGS was detected in 73% of PCS patients. This was an indication for antibacterial treatment. Rifaximine in a dose 800 mg/day failed to attenuate pain and to eliminate dyspeptic syndromes in some patients, BHT in them was not normal. Administration of rifaximine in a dose 1200 mg/day normalized BHT in 90% patients and eliminated clinical symptoms in most of the patients. Conclusion. Rifaximine in a dose 1200 mg/day vs 800 mg/day in PCS patients with SIBOGS is more effective as it eliminates clinical symptoms and normalizes BHT.

Keywords

• small intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome
• breath hydrogen test
• rifaximine
• cholecystectomy
• postcholecystectomy syndrome