Liver support systems: a 1978 perspective.
The present status of support systems and devices for the injured liver is reviewed with emphasis on both long-term and short-term substitution. Long-term replacement can only be possible by the grafting or transplantation of a human and/or other primate liver. Most artificial systems may be applied for short-term biological and technical substitution, e.g., by hemodialysis/hemoperfusion through adsorbents and resins. More sophisticated devices for detoxification of blood or cell-free plasma in acute liver failure should combine the catalytic specificity of immobilized microsomal enzymes with the adsorptive capacity of activated charcoal, resins and affinity gels.
D001187:Artificial Organs / Q000639:trends*; D002606:Charcoal; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000201:enzymology; D057487:Enzyme Therapy; D006464:Hemoperfusion / Q000379:methods; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008134:Long-Term Care; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D002606:Charcoal