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Effect of Rifaximin on Thrombocytopenia in Patients With HCV-Related Liver Cirrhosis

NCT07791940 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: PHASE4 · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 165

Last updated 2026-08-28

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Cirrhosis is a common complication of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Egypt. Thrombocytopenia (TP) is the most common cytopenia in patients with cirrhosis and may be associated with variceal bleeding, rebleeding, morbidity, and mortality. Although TP has traditionally been attributed to portal hypertension and splenic sequestration, other mechanisms include impaired thrombopoietin activity, bone marrow suppression, and increased platelet destruction.

Rifaximin is a poorly absorbed, broad-spectrum intestinal antimicrobial agent widely used in patients with cirrhosis, particularly for hepatic encephalopathy. Its minimal systemic absorption limits systemic adverse effects. Rifaximin may reduce intestinal bacterial overgrowth and bacterial translocation, thereby decreasing circulating endotoxin and proinflammatory cytokines that may contribute to haematological abnormalities in cirrhosis.

Previous observations have suggested that intestinal decontamination with rifaximin may increase platelet counts in patients with cirrhosis and thrombocytopenia. This randomised controlled trial was designed to investigate whether rifaximin treatment could improve platelet count in patients with HCV-related liver cirrhosis and thrombocytopenia.

Conditions

  • Thrombocytopenia Related to Chronic Liver Disease

Interventions

DRUG

Rifaximin (drug)

Rifaximin 550 mg tab twice daily for four weeks

OTHER

Rifaximin Placebo

Twice daily for 4 weeks

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Fayoum University Hospital

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Ahmed A. Gomaa, MD · Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University

  • Mohamed M. Tawfiq, MD · Faculty of Medicine, Beni Suef University

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
75 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2015-10-19
Primary Completion
2016-12-30
Completion
2016-12-30

Countries

  • Egypt

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07791940 on ClinicalTrials.gov