title: What clinical alternatives to whole liver transplantation? Current status of artificial devices and hepatocyte transplantation.
abstract: Shortage of organ donors limits the number of possible liver transplantations. Alternative therapies for treatment of liver failure are currently being developed: (i) extracorporeal artificial liver devices; (ii) bioartificial liver devices using hepatocytes; and (iii) hepatocyte transplantation. The objective of these strategies is to bridge patients with liver failure until a suitable liver allograft is obtained for transplantation or the patient's own liver regenerates sufficiently to resume normal function. In this review, we discuss these strategies and summarize the current status of clinical experience.
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sgroi
authors.forename: Veronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Serre-Beinier
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morel
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bühler
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004867:Equipment Design; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D019164:Liver, Artificial / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000600:supply & distribution