title: [Study of severe hepatitis treated with a hybrid artificial liver support system].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of a hybrid artificial liver support system in the treatment of chronic severe hepatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The hybrid artificial liver support system (HALSS) consisted of a bioreactor containing more than 5 x 10(9) porcine hepatocytes and plasma exchange device. 15 patients with chronic severe viral hepatitis were treated with the hybrid system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the patients experienced a reduction in symptoms, such as fatigue, abdominal distention or ascites. After each treatment serum total bilirubin decreased markedly (from 493.5 micromol/L+-139.8 micromol/L to 250.9 micromol/L+-91.3 micromol/L, t=8.695, P<0.001), while prothrombin activity increased (from 24.5%+-8.4% to 30.6%+-6.3%, t=3.325, P<0.01). There were 11 patients whose progress of hepatocytes necrosis stopped after HALSS treatment, and finally they recovered completely. Four patients died of their worsen conditions. No serious adverse events were noted in the 15 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HALSS is a reliable hepatic support device for chronic severe hepatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
authors.forename: Lan-juan
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jian-rong
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hong-cui
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Yue-mei
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ya-gang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ji-fang
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Su-zhen
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D019149:Bioreactors; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D019164:Liver, Artificial; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010951:Plasma Exchange / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D016896:Treatment Outcome