Deprescribing Proton Pump Inhibitors to Reduce Post-TIPS Hepatic Encephalopathy

A total of 40 patients taking proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) who undergo transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation as part of routine clinical care will be randomized in 1:1 fashion to either continue or discontinue their PPIs to determine whether these commonly used gastric acid suppressing agents increase risk of post-TIPS hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Patients will be assessed for symptoms of minimal HE (MHE), using the established psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES) battery of tests. MHE assessment will be conducted at two timepoints: at baseline prior to randomization and TIPS creation and approximately 4 weeks after randomization and TIPS creation. Stool samples will also be collected at both timepoints to allow characterization of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract microbiome using 16S rRNA sequencing. The pre to post-TIPS change in PHES scores will be compared between patients randomized to continue versus discontinue their PPIs. Quality of life (QOL) will also be assessed. Changes in the GI tract microbiome will be analyzed to determine whether this represents a potential biological mechanism linking PPI use with post-TIPS HE.

Inclusion Criteria: * Undergoing TIPS creation as part of routine clinical care * On PPIs therapy (at least 20 mg omeprazole equivalent daily) * Provision of signed and dated informed consent form by participant or legal representative * Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study * Male or female, age greater or equal to 18 Exclusion Criteria: * Grade IV esophagitis or gastric or duodenal ulcer * Recent endoscopic esophageal variceal band ligation necessitating PPI therapy for prevention of banding ulcer * Zollinger-Ellison syndrome * Active Helicobacter pylori infection * Pregnancy