title: [Comparison of extracorporeal liver assist devices - albumin dialysis versus plasma exchange - in acute-on-chronic liver failure].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Extracorporeal liver assist devices are besides causal and symptomatic approaches important therapeutic options in acute-on-chronic (AOC) liver failure. In this retrospective analysis, albumin dialysis was compared to therapeutic plasma exchange (TPA) under various aspects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 20 patients per group (10 women, 10 men in each group, mean age 51 ± 12,6 years and 48,2 ± 15,2 years, respectively) treated over a period of 3 months were analyzed. During the first treatment, 5 sessions of dialysis were performed (week 1) for both procedures, 3 more sessions were completed in the second and in the third week each. Data were acquired on days 1, 8, 13, 20, 28 and 90.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 28 days, 13 out of 20 patients following albumin dialysis and 7 out of 20 patients following plasma exchange had survived (p = 0,11). After 90 days, 10 patients following albumin dialysis and 5 patients following plasma exchange were alive (p = 0,19). Degree of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) had not improved significantly. Rates of complication (infections, bleeding or system clotting) were similar under both procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Extracorporeal liver assist devices can be considered equally well as a therapeutic option in acute-on-chronic liver failure. Differences in 90-day survival were not observed in our study.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Gastroenterologie und Hepatologie, Universitätsklinikum Essen.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kahraman
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Nephrologie, Universitätsklinikum Essen.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wand
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Informatik, Biometrie und Epidemiologie, Universitätsklinikum Essen.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eisele
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Nephrologie, Universitätsklinikum Essen.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Witzke
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Gastroenterologie und Hepatologie, Universitätsklinikum Essen.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Canbay
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Gastroenterologie und Hepatologie, Universitätsklinikum Essen.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerken
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D058625:End Stage Liver Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D006530:Hepatorenal Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D019164:Liver, Artificial; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012709:Serum Albumin; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D012709:Serum Albumin; D001663:Bilirubin