Molecular adsorbent recycling system in treating patients with acute liver failure: a bridge to liver transplantation.
BACKGROUND
Acute liver failure is still a life-threatening disease although it can be treated by liver transplantation. This study was conducted to assess the molecular adsorbent recycling system (MARS), which may bridge acute liver failure patients to liver transplantation.


METHODS
Biochemical indexes and other clinical data were analyzed of 8 patients with acute liver failure, who had been treated by MARS for 34 times and subsequent Piggyback liver transplantation.


RESULTS
After treatment with MARS, the levels of transaminase and total bilirubin decreased markedly, but coagulation function remained unimproved. All patients survived and discharged from the hospital.


CONCLUSIONS
MARS is effective in bridging patients with acute liver failure to liver transplantation.
Ding
Yi-Tao
YT
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Medical College of Nanjing University; Hepatobiliary Institute of Nanjing University; Hepatobiliary Surgery Institute of Nanjing, Nanjing 210000, China. dingyitao@yahoo.com
Xu
Qing-Xiang
QX
Qiu
Yu-Dong
YD
Yang
Yi-Jun
YJ
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016060:Sorption Detoxification; D013997:Time Factors; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000637:Transaminases; D001663:Bilirubin