VALUE OF PROBIOTICS IN THE CONTROL OF HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY

This study was conducted in Tropical Medicine Department, Zagazig University Hospitals from January 2005 to January 2006. This study comprised 100 educated cirrhotic patients without overt HE. The diagnosis of cirrhosis was confirmed by ultrasonographic examination and they were screened for MHE and grade-I by psychometric tests. Forty eight apparently healthy subjects also included as controls. HE was diagnosed if at least one of the psychometric tests was abnormal.The aim of this work is to investigate the value of probiotics in the control of HE in patients with cirrhosis.A full medical history was taken to cover the various aspects of personal, present and past histories including history of fermented milk intake and any of the criteria of altered mental state. Every patient was submitted to thorough clinical examination with special stress on signs of chronic liver disease. All patients had routine investigations that include liver function tests, PT, kidney function tests, complete blood picture and viral markers. Child-Turcotte-Pugh class was evaluated for each patient. Abdominal ultrasonographic examination was done for diagnosis of cirrhosis and detection of ascites. Psychometric tests were done to diagnose HE and to follow up of patients after probiotic therapy. All patients were given probiotic supplementation that contains Lactobacillus acidophilus one capsule 30 minutes before meals three times daily each capsule contains 100 million living organism and its naturally occurring metabolic products for two weeks. This study revealed that: