[The efficacy of artificial liver support system treatment on hepatic failure in China: a meta-analysis].
OBJECTIVE
Conducting a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of artificial liver support system (ALSS) in the treatment of hepatic failure in China.


METHODS
Clinical trials comparing ALSS vs. routine medical treatment of hepatic failure in China were identified from computer-based literature. The pooled odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) of prognostic indicators, such as survival rate and clinical improvement rate at discharge, were used to measure the magnitude of the efficacy.


RESULTS
Ten trials including 1030 patients were identified. The odds ratio (95% CI) of survivorship or improvement of ALSS over routine medical treatment in early, intermediate and advanced stages of hepatic failure were 3.72 (2.03-6.83), 2.79 (2.88-4.14) and 1.85 (0.96-3.56) respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
ALSS treatment is more effective in early and intermediate stages of hepatic failure than routine medical treatment, but not in its advanced stage.
Yang
Yong-Feng
YF
Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to the Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing 210003, China. yyf1972@tom.com
Wei
Lin-Ling
LL
Zhang
Ning
N
Huang
Ping
P
Yang
Yi-Jun
YJ
Wang
Li-Rong
LR
D006801:Humans; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D019164:Liver, Artificial; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome