Treatment of fulminant hepatic failure by polyacrylonitrile-membrane haemodialysis.
24 patients with fulminant hepatic failure who had deteriorated to grade-IV coma were treated by repeated periods of haemodialysis with a polyacrylonitrile membrane. 9 patients fully recovered consciousness, and 8 (33%) survived to leave hospitals. These results are to be compared with those of conservative management alone (15% survival in 53 cases) and those obtained initially with charcoal haemo-perfusion (38%). Of the 16 treatment failures, cerebral oedema was found at necropsy in 13 (18%). Whether this would have been less of problem if treatment had been started earlier in the course of the illness remains to be determined.
D000181:Acrylonitrile; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000473:pathology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009570:Nitriles; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors
D000596:Amino Acids; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009570:Nitriles; D000181:Acrylonitrile