An international study proves that the combination of simvastatin and rifaximin is not effective in patients with decompensated cirrhosis

A group of researchers from the Parc Taulí Research and Innovation Institute (I3PT) has collaborated in an important European study that has evaluated theefficacy of the combination of two drugs, simvastatin and rifaximin, to prevent serious complications in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis.

The clinical trial —carried out in 14 European hospitals, including Parc Taulí, as part of the LIVERHOPE project— involved 237 patients. The aim of the research was to analyse whether these two drugs could prevent serious complications, mortality and the need for liver transplantation in patients with advanced cirrhosis. The results, recently published in the prestigious magazine JAMA, have shown that the The combination of simvastatin and rifaximin in people with decompensated cirrhosis does not present treatment benefits that reduce the associated risks..

A study of great complexity and relevance

Cristina Solé and Jordi Sánchez, digestologists and researchers of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Liver and Helicobacter pylori of the I3PT, have led the study at Parc Taulí. The two experts have highlighted the complexity of carrying out studies in patients with decompensated cirrhosis due to their fragility and high mortality rate. “It has been a very high-quality study, both for the participating centers and for its design., which was double-blind and placebo-controlled, and applied to patients in a very advanced stage of the disease, which makes its execution particularly complex,” they stated. “Despite the results, thestudy provides valuable information about the disease and future lines of research".

What is decompensated cirrhosis?

Liver cirrhosis is a chronic liver disease which can evolve progressively in different phases. When patients present complications of the disease, such as ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdomen) or hemorrhage, it is called decompensated cirrhosisThis phase is associated with a high risk of serious complications and high morbidity and mortality. Currently, there are still few treatments that prevent the progression of the disease, especially in the decompensated phase.