Erythromycin versus neomycin in the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhosis: a randomized double-blind study

Table 2 Comparison of clinical and laboratory findings between groups at hospital admission

Initial variables	Erythromycin	Neomycin	p
Episodic HE¹	4	7	0.449
Persistent HE¹	11	7	0.263
Non classified HE¹	0	1	0.992
Age (years) ²	55.20 ± 13.51	58.80 ± 10.47	0.421
Child-Pugh score ³	8.00 (8.00 : 10.50)	9.00 (8.00 : 10.75)	0.421
MELD score ²	16.40 ± 3.89	15.22 ± 4.40	0.440
HEG (grades) ³	2.00 (1.00 : 2.75)	2.00 (1.00 : 3.00)	0.421
HEI ³	13.00 (10.00 : 16.50)	14.00 (9.00 : 18.00)	0.588
GCS ³	14.00 (13.00 : 14.00)	13.00 (10.25 : 14.75)	0.394
CRP ³	0.80 (0.35 : 2.325)	1.40 (0.50 : 3.80)	0.475
NH₃ ³	96.00 (80.75 : 118.50)	82.00 (45.50 : 174.75)	0.468

Child-Pugh score = Child-Pugh modified classification. HEG = hepatic encephalopathy grades. HEI = hepatic encephalopathy index. GCS = Glasgow coma scale. CRP = C reactive protein (mg/dl). NH₃ = serum ammonia (μM/l). ¹ absolute values and Z score comparison; ² mean ± standard deviation and t test comparison ; ³ median, 1º : 3º quartiles and Mann–Whitney test comparison.

ISSN: 1471-230X