AST-120 Used to Treat Mild Hepatic Encephalopathy
AST-120 Used to Treat Mild Hepatic Encephalopathy
The purpose of this study is to determine whether AST-120 is safe and effective in the
 treatment of mild hepatic encephalopathy.
Inclusion Criteria:

 1. Confirmed cirrhosis of any cause

 2. Abnormal RBANS global summary score

 3. Grade 0 or 1 hepatic encephalopathy by West-Haven Scale

 4. MELD score < or = 25

 5. Females must be postmenopausal, surgically incapable of bearing children or practicing
 a reliable method of birth control

 Exclusion Criteria:

 1. Previous participation in any trial involving AST-120

 2. History of TIPS or surgically created portocaval shunt

 3. Treatment for overt HE within the past 3 months

 4. Use of lactulose, rifaximin, neomycin or other antibiotics in the past 7 days

 5. Active alcohol abuse

 6. Psychosis or organic brain syndromes due to alcohol or other causes

 7. Use of interferon and sedating or cognition-altering drugs

 8. Undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy for the treatment of cancer

 9. Active GI bleeding within the past 3 months

 10. Presence of an active infection

 11. Presence of signs and symptoms of severe dehydration

 12. Other major physical or major psychiatric illness within the past 6 months

 13. Pregnant, breast feeding, or planning to become pregnant during the study

 14. Using hormonal contraception as the only method of birth control