A clinical study on the treatment of severe hepatitis by a combined artificial liver.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To focus on determining efficacy and safety of the combined artificial liver in treating severe hepatitis. METHODOLOGY: Ten patients with acute and chronic severe hepatitis were chosen for this study. A total of 19 cases were treated with a combination of selective plasma absorption and selective plasma exchange and 1 was treated with plasma perfusion absorption. Clinical symptoms and physical signs were observed. In addition, the changes in biochemical markers, coagulation function, and aminogram before and after selective plasma perfusion absorption treatment were compared. RESULTS: Ten patients were able to tolerate the treatment; 8 patients were cured or improved whereas 2 worsened. Statistically significant differences (p<0.05) were observed in the serum levels of total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, total bile acids, albumin and globulin before and after the selective perfusion absorption treatment. In contrast, no statistically significant differences (p>0.05) were observed in the serum concentrations of potassium, sodium, creatinine and urea nitrogen, as well as in prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time and aminogram changes. CONCLUSIONS: The new perfusion absorber can markedly improve hepatic function without influencing the metabolism of micro-molecules and coagulation factors.