Hemodiafiltration treatment of deep hepatic coma by protein passing membrane: case report.
Based on the assumption that middle molecules that induce hepatic coma occur in the plasma of patients with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF), the authors have developed a hemodiafiltration (HDF) method using a large-pore poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) membrane that allows proteins to pass through. PMMA HDF resulted in complete recovery of deep coma and long-term survival in a patient with severe FHF. Although a large-scale controlled trial is needed, PMMA HDF is believed to be promising as a future artificial liver support.
D000328:Adult; D001769:Blood; D001798:Blood Proteins; D005260:Female; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008768:Methylmethacrylates; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D014462:Ultrafiltration
D001798:Blood Proteins; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008768:Methylmethacrylates