title: Plasmapheresis for hemolytic crisis and impending acute liver failure in Wilson disease.
abstract: Wilsonian crisis is fatal unless copper removal is initiated early and liver transplantation is performed for patients that fulfill criteria for a poor outcome. We report a patient presenting with severe hemolysis and impending acute liver failure that made a rapid recovery with prompt initiation of plasmapheresis and chelation therapy. Rapid copper removal by plasmapheresis alleviated hemolysis and liver injury. A review of the literature was performed examining the use of plasmapheresis and albumin dialysis with continuous veno-venous hemodialysis or molecular adsorbents and recirculating system.
authors: Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors: Samuel
authors: S
authors: Asfaha
authors: Mohammed
authors: M
authors: Almansori
authors: Uwais
authors: U
authors: Qarni
authors: Klaus S
authors: KS
authors: Gutfreund
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000743:Anemia, Hemolytic / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D015913:Chelation Therapy; D005260:Female; D006461:Hemolysis; D006527:Hepatolenticular Degeneration / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D016896:Treatment Outcome