Clinical Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2003. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 15, 2003; 9(4): 829-832
Published online Apr 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i4.829
The development of a new bioartificial liver and its application in 12 acute liver failure patients
Yi-Tao Ding, Yu-Dong Qiu, Zhong Chen, Qing-Xiang Xu, He-Yuan Zhang, Qing Tang, De-Cai Yu
Yi-Tao Ding, Yu-Dong Qiu, Zhong Chen, Qing-Xiang Xu, Qing Tang, De-Cai Yu, Hepatobiliary Surgery Department, affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Medical College of Nanjing University, Hepatobiliary Institute of Nanjing University; Hepatobiliary Surgery Institute of Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210008, China
He-Yuan Zhang, Biochemistry Department in Nanjing University, Jiangsu Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the Public Health Bureau of Jiangsu Province, China, BQ200020 and Social Development Plan of Scientific and Technological Council of Nanjing Municipal, China. SS200002
Correspondence to: Dr. Yi-Tao Ding, Hepatobiliary Surgical Department, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Medical College in Nanjing University, Zhongshan road, 321, Nanjing, 210008, Jiangsu Province, China. xqx008@hotmail.com
Telephone: +86-25-3304616-11601 Fax: +86-25-3317016
Received: July 31, 2002
Revised: September 5, 2002
Accepted: September 12, 2002
Published online: April 15, 2003
Abstract

AIM: Bioartificial liver is a hope of supporting liver functions in acute liver failure patients. Using polysulfon fibers, a new bioartificial liver was developed. The aim of this study was to show whether this bioartificial liver could support liver functions or not.

METHODS: Hepatocytes were procured from swine using Seglen’s methods. The bioartificial liver was constructed by polysulfon bioreactor and more than 1010 hepatocytes. It was applied 14 times in 12 patients, who were divided into 7 cases of simultaneous HBAL and 5 cases of non-simultaneous HBAL. Each BAL treatment lasted 6 hours. The general condition of the patients and the biochemical indexes were studied.

RESULTS: After treatment with bioartificial liver, blood ammonia, prothrombin time and total bilirubin showed significant decrease. 2 d later, blood ammonia still showed improvment. within one month period, 1 case (1/7) in simultaneous group died while in non-simultaneous group 2 cases (2/5) died. The difference was significant. Mortality rate was 25%.

CONCLUSION: The constructed bioartificial liver can support liver functions in acute liver failure. The simultaneous HBAL is better than non-simultaneous HBAL.

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