The effects of compound probiotics on intestinal microflora in patient with liver cirrhosis

Objective:To investigate the changes in intestinal flora,blood ammonia and serum endotoxin after the administration of probiotics.Methods:Six bacteria were cultured and the colony forming uints were counted in the stool.Forty-two patients were randomized to receive probiotics capsules contains Bifidobacterrium,Lactobacillus acidophilus and Enterococcus for 21 days.Fecal flora,blood ammonia (detected by test paper) and serum endotoxin(detected by limulus ameobocyte lysate test kits) were measured before and after the treatment.Results:Patients with liver cirrhosis had varying degrees of intestinal flora imbalance,shown by a decrease in the count of Bifidobacterium(10.12±0.71 vs.9.27±1.25,P0.05).Probiotics could increase Bifidobacterium count (9.27±1.25 vs 10.43±1.25,P0.01) and reduce the level of blood ammonia and serum endotoxin[(109.21±12.23)pg/ml vs(71.46±9.12) pg/ml,P0.05].Conclusion:Patients with liver cirrhosis have imbalance of intestinal flora.probiotics effectively invrease the Bifidobacterium count and reduce the level of blood ammonia and serum endotoxin in patients with liver cirrhosis.