title: Artificial liver support for postoperative hepatic failure with anion exchange resin (BR-601).
abstract: An artificial liver support system for plasma exchange and plasma perfusion through BR-601 resin using a membrane separator was applied to 5 patients with postoperative liver failure. Percent absorption of total and direct bilirubin, and of bile acids were 77.1 +/- 6.4, 78.4 +/- 6.1, and 93.4 +/- 3.6%, respectively, when 250 ml of plasma was treated. Percent reductions in total and direct bilirubin, and in bile acids were 24.5 +/- 5.8, 25.5 +/- 5.8 and 30.9 +/- 8.5%, respectively. In contrast, percent reductions in total and direct bilirubin, and in bile acids by plasma exchange were 30.9 +/- 13.3, 34.5 +/- 12.5 and 24.2 +/- 8.5%, respectively. The coma grade was improved in 4 out of 5 cases, but unfortunately the patients did not recover. In conclusion, plasma perfusion through BR-601 resin is expected to play a promising role in artificial liver support systems because of its capacity to absorb bilirubin and bile acids.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001187:Artificial Organs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000502:physiology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008875:Middle Aged; D010477:Perfusion; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy; D012116:Resins, Plant
chemical_list: D012116:Resins, Plant