Original Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2001. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 15, 2001; 7(6): 826-829
Published online Dec 15, 2001. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v7.i6.826
TECA hybrid artificial liver support system in treatment of acute liver failure
Yi-Long Xue, Shi-Feng Zhao, Yun-Luo, Xin-Jian Li, Zhong-Ping Duan, Xiao-Ping Chen, Wen-Ge Li, Xiao-Qiang Huang, Yan-Ling Li, Xin-Cui, Da-Guang Zhong, Zuo-Yun Zhang, Zhi-Qiang Huang
Yi-Long Xue, Shi-Feng Zhao, Yun-Luo, Xin-Jian Li, Xiao-Ping Chen, Wen-Ge Li, Xiao-Qiang Huang, Yan-Ling Li, Xin-Cui, Da-Guang Zhong, Zuo-Yun Zhang, Zhi-Qiang Huang, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
Zhong-Ping Duan, Beijing You-An Hospital, Beijing 100054, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the Research Initiation Fund for Returned Students from Overseas, Ministry of Education, No. 94001
Correspondence to: Dr. Yi-Long Xue, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese PLA General Hospital, 28 Fu Xing Road, Beijing 100853, China. xueyl@plagh.com.cn
Telephone: +86-10-66937914, Fax: +86-10-68159670
Received: June 2, 2001
Revised: July 19, 2001
Accepted: August 10, 2001
Published online: December 15, 2001
Abstract

AIM: To assess the efficacy and safety of TECA type hybr id artificial liver support system (TECA-HALSS) in providing liver function of detoxification, metabolism and physiology by treating the patients with acute liv er failure (ALF).

METHODS: The porcine liver cells (1-2) × 1010 were separated from the Chinese small swine and cultured in the bioreactor of TECA-BALSS at 37.0 °C and circulated through the outer space of the hollow fiber tubes in BALSS. The six liver failure patients with various degree of hepatic coma were treated by TECA-HALSS and with conventional medicines. The venous plasma of the patients was separated by a plasma separator and treated by charcoal adsorbent or plasma exchange. The plasma circulated through the inner space of the hollow fiber tubes of BALSS and mixed with the patients’ blood cells and flew back to their blood circulation. Some small molecular weight substances were exchanged between the plasma and porcine liver cells. Each treatment lasted 6.0-7.0 h. Physiological and biochemical parameters were measured before, during and after the treatment.

RESULTS: The average of porcine liver cells was (1.0-3.0) × 1010 obtained from each swine liver using our modified enzymatic digestion method. The survival rate of the cells was 85%-93% by trypan blue stain and AO/PI fluorescent stain. After cultured in TECA-BALSS bioreactor for 6 h, the survival rate of cells still remained 70%-85%. At the end of TECA-HALSS treatment, the levels of plasma NH3, ALT, TB and DB were significantly decreased. The patients who were in the state of drowsiness or coma before the treatment improved their appetite significantly and regained consciousness, some patients resumed light physical work on a short period after the treatment. One to two days after the treatment, the ratio of PTA increased warkedly. During the treatment, the heart rates, blood pressure, respiration condition and serum electrolytes (K+, Na+ and Cl-) were stable without thrombosis and bleeding in all the six patients.

CONCLUSION: TECA-HALSS treatment could be a rapid, safe and efficacious method to provide temporary liver support for patients with ALF.

Keywords: liver, artificial; liver failure; acute/therapy