Probiotics for the Management of Liver Cirrhosis and Its Complications

Abstract

Cirrhosis is the terminal stage of various chronic liver diseases, and its decompensated stage is mainly characterized by serious complications, such as hepatic encephalopathy, ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Gut microbial dysbiosis is prevalent in patients with cirrhosis. Considering the bidirectional regulation of the gut-liver axis, dysbiosis is closely related to the development and progression of liver cirrhosis. Probiotics, which modulate the gut microbiome, have received significant attention for managing cirrhosis and its complications. Through a review of relevant literature, we have provided a comprehensive summary of the potential efficacy of probiotics in treating cirrhosis and its complications, providing new insights into targeting the gut microbiome.