| Theme |
Multiple Organ Failure and Blood Purification Therapy |
| Title |
Artificial liver support for hepatic failure |
| Author |
Atsuya Shimizu |
The first Department of Internal Medicine, Mie University |
| Author |
Koujirou Takase |
The first Department of Internal Medicine, Mie University |
| [ Summary ] |
Patients with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) were treated by using blood transfusions or charcoal hemoperfusion until the introduction of plasma exchange. Plasma exchange is currently the most frequently used method of liver support for FHF patients. Recently, it has been reported that plasma exchange, in combination with hemodiafiltration, using high-performance membranes, is more effective. Although the survival rate of patients with acute type FHF has increased through advances in intensive therapy, the prognosis for patients with the subacute type of FHF is still poor. It is impossible to save these patients who have markedly atrophic livers and display failure of hepatic regeneration. In those patients, liver transplantation may be the only viable method. The development of factors which may accelate hepatic regeneration and the introduction of hybrid bioartificial liver support is hoped for. |