Effect of Vivomixx® on Neuroinflammation in Patients Withs Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis, Liver
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Cirrhosis, Liver focused on measuring Cirrhosis, Probiotics, Systemic inflammation, neuroinflammation, Cognitive function, Bacterial translocation
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Outpatients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites according to current definition (29) (substudy 1), and hospitalized patients with cirrhosis and an episode of bacterial infection (substudy 2) at Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau.
Cirrhosis will be diagnosed by clinical, analytical and ultrasonographic findings or by liver biopsy. SBP will be diagnosed by an ascitic fluid neutrophil count > 250/mm3 with or without positive culture (28). Bacteremia, urinary infections, pneumonia, cellulitis, other bacterial infections and possible or suspected infections will be diagnosed according to current guidelines (13,14,28). All patients with SBP, bacteremia or pneumonia will be included. However patients with urinary infections, cellulitis or suspected infection these non-SBP infections will be required to fulfil the following requirements: at least two criteria of SIRS (systemic inflammatory response syndrome) (Annex I) (30) and CRP (C-reactive protein) >= 10 mg/dl (28).
Exclusion Criteria:
- Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (beyond Milan's criteria) or any other malignancy determining a poor short-term prognosis.
- Advanced liver insufficiency [MELD (model for end-stage liver disease) >25].
- Marked symptomatic comorbidities (neurological, cardiac, pulmonary, renal, psychiatric, HIV infection).
- Septic shock, ileus, need for tracheal intubation or intensive care unit.
- Immunomodulatory drugs.
- In substudy 1, any infection at inclusion in the study.
Sites / Locations
- Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Active Comparator
Active Comparator
Outpatients with refractory ascites
Patients hospitalized because bacterial infection
20 consecutive outpatients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites Vivomixx®sachets containing 450 x 109 bacteria, 2 every 12 hours (n=25), or placebo (n=25)
30 consecutive patients with cirrhosis and bacterial infections. All patients will receive endovenous antibiotics and, only in the case of patients with SBP, also intravenous albumin Vivomixx®sachets containing 450 x 109 bacteria, 2 every 12 hours (n=25), or placebo (n=25)