A RCT COMPARING LACTULOSE AND RIFAXIMIN ASSOCIATED WITH A VEGETABLE DIET IN THE PREVENTION OF POST-TIPS OVERT HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY

Inclusion Criteria: * consecutive cirrhotic patients undergoing TIPS Exclusion Criteria: * age \>75 years; bilirubin levels \>5 mg/dl; creatinine levels \>3 mg/dl; a serious cardiac or pulmonary dysfunction; a Child-Pugh's score \>11 (except for the patients candidates to early TIPS); a model end-stage liver disease (MELD) score \>18; a diagnosis of hepatic carcinoma; sepsis; spontaneous bacterial peritonitis; renal insufficiency. Present HE or previous spontaneous/recurrent HE, alcohol/psychoactive drugs intake (positive alcoholaemia and/or benzodiazepines or opioid urine metabolites) at the moment of evaluation, unrelated neurological disease including dementia (mini mental state \< 26).