title: [Alternatives to liver transplantation].
abstract: Methods of artificial liver support gained evolving interest by giving a bridge to liver transplantation. The most reliable concept transient liver support is represented by an apparatus employing hepatocytes as extracorporeal devices or implantable systems. Xenotransplantation from animal donors is not yet widely accepted, but latest experiences with transgenic donors may alleviate this technology useful for clinical application. Living related liver transplantation has been accepted to overwhelm donor availability with special regard to those countries, where cadaveric donation has not been established. Auxiliary liver grafting gained popularity for the treatment of fulminant hepatic failure, with special interest to the late regeneration of the host liver leading to avoid the need for continuous immunosuppression. As a consequence of enormous morbidity and mortality of chronic liver diseases in Hungary, the calculated number of patients requiring liver transplantation is about three times higher than that in other countries of Europe. Life threatening complications of liver cirrhosis such as variceal bleeding, or intractable ascites could be effectively treated by endoscopic or surgical means. To give chance patients with end stage liver disease being transplanted in Hungary, transplant centers should be built up according to demographic and geographic requirements.
authors.affiliation: Semmelweis Orvostudományi Egyetem I. Sebészeti Klinika.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kupcsulik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D014019:Tissue Donors; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
vernacular_title: A májátültetés alternatiívái.