Probiotics are helpful in hepatic encephalopathy: a meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Background: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a major complication of cirrhosis and is associated with decreased survival and increased health care utilization.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of probiotics in the management minimal hepatic encephalopathy HE (MHE) and overt HE (OHE) in comparison to no treatment/placebo and lactulose.

Methods: The main outcomes measured were mortality, improvement in MHE, progression to OHE in patients with MHE and hospitalization.