title: Artificial liver support system in treatment of liver failure after acute poisoning.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute poisoning (AP) may cause failure of the liver and kidney, and even death. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of artificial liver support system (ALSS) on the treatment of liver failure after acute poisoning.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 31 patients with liver failure caused by AP were admitted to emergency ICU, central ICU, and Department of Gastroenterology from 2005 to 2009 in Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University, China. Among them, 13 patients served as a treatment group, and used ALSS in addition to detoxification treatment and protective treatment of liver function, and the other 18 patients served as a control group receiving detoxification treatment and protective treatment of liver function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the treatment group, 10 patients (76.9%) were cured or improved, 2 died, and 1 was discharged against advice. In the 18 patients in the control group, 7 (38.9%) were cured or improved, 3 died, and 8 were discharged against advice. There was a significant difference in the rates of improvement between the two groups (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ALSS is a safe and effective clinical method for the treatment of acute toxic liver failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University, Xiamen 361004, China.
authors.forename: Li-Gang
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University, Xiamen 361004, China.
authors.forename: Bayasi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Guleng
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University, Xiamen 361004, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Lin
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University, Xiamen 361004, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University, Xiamen 361004, China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: Artificial liver support system; Liver failure; Toxicity