| Theme |
Acute Liver Failure and Regenerative Medicine of the Liver |
| Title |
Recombinant Human HGF for Treatment of Fulminant Hepatic Failure |
| Author |
Akihiro Moriuchi |
Department of Digestive and Life-style Related Disease, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences |
| Author |
Akio Ido |
Department of Digestive and Life-style Related Disease, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences |
| Author |
Hirohito Tsubouchi |
Department of Digestive and Life-style Related Disease, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences |
| [ Summary ] |
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is apotential therapeutic agent for treating intractable liver diseases including fulminant hepaticfailure (FHF). In 2005, after performing a number of preclinical tests with recombinant human HGF (rh-HGF), we started a phase I/II study of patients with FHF or late-onset hepatic failure (LOHF) to examine the safety and clinical efficacy of rh-HGF. To date, we have administered rh-HGF to three patients with FHF and one with LOHF; two of the four patients recovered. The data from our clinical trial that examined the effects of rh-HGF in patients with FHF or LOHF were reviewed by an independent data monitoring committee. Because only four patients were investigated, it is difficult to confirm any effects of rh-HGF with certainty. However, rh-HGF, as administered here, did not produce any severe side effects, although a decrease in systolic blood pressure and reversible albuminuria occurred in the preclinical tests. We hope that these results will help hasten the future use of rh-HGF for patients with intractable liver diseases. |