Short-term efficacy of Clostridium butyricum tablets in treatment of diarrhea in hepatitis B-related liver cirrhosis

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Clostridium butyricum tablets in treatment of diarrhea in patients with hepatitis B-related liver cirrhosis. Methods Eighty-seven patients with hepatitis B-related liver cirrhosis and diarrhea were collected from Pujiang People's Hospital in Zhejiang province during January 2011 and May 2013. According to random number table, patients were divided into Clostridium butyricum treated group (n=44) and control group (n=43). Both groups were given antiviral, liver support, jaundice-relieving and fluid infusion treatments, while patients in Clostridium butyricum group were given Clostridium butyricum tablets (2 tables per time, 3 tables per day for 4 weeks) additionally. Diarrhea remission time, improvements in liver function and the complications were observed. Differences in measurement data were compared with t test, and enumeration data were compared with χ2 test or rank-sum test. Results The total effective rate in Clostridium butyricum group was 95.45% (42/44), while that in control group was 74.4% (32/43)(Z=2.82, P<0.05). After 4 weeks of treatment, the improvements of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total bilirubin (TBil), albumin (Alb) and Child-Pugh (CTP) score in Clostridium butyricum group were more marked than those in control group (t=2.13, 2.57, 4.83, 5.93 and 3.30, P<0.01). Hepatic encephalopathy occurred in 2 patients in control group and none in Clostridium butyricum group. Conclusion Clostridium butyricum has significant curative effect on diarrhea in patients with hepatitis B-related liver cirrhosis, and it can also improve liver function and reduce the incidence of hepatic encephalopathy. Key words: Hepatitis B, chronic; Liver cirrhosis; Diarrhea; Intestinal microflora; Clostridum butyricum