title: Comparison of two different modes of molecular adsorbent recycling systems for liver dialysis.
abstract: In children acute liver failure is a rare but life-threatening condition from which two-thirds do not recover with supportive therapy. Treatment is limited by the availability of liver transplants. Molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS) dialysis is a bridge to transplantation that enhances the chances of survival during the waiting period for a transplant, although it cannot improve survival. Open albumin dialysis (OPAL) is a new mode of albumin dialysis developed to further improve dialysis efficiency.
  
  
  
  We report a paediatric case of acute-on-chronic liver failure and compare the two modes of albumin dialysis, namely, the MARS and OPAL, used to treat this patient's cholestatic pruritus. Removal of total and direct bilirubin, ammonia and bile acids were measured by serial blood tests. There was an increased removal of bile acids with the OPAL mode, whereas the removal of total and direct bilirubin and ammonia was similar in both modes. The patient reported better improvement in pruritus following OPAL compared to dialysis with the MARS.
  
  
  
  OPAL may offer a better solution than the MARS in the treatment of refractory pruritus in liver failure.
authors.affiliation: Division of Paediatric Nephrology, Centre for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Im Neuenheimer Feld 430, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.|Paediatric Nephrology Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Princess Margaret Hospital, 2-10 Princess Margaret Hospital Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Euan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Soo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Biometry and Informatics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.affiliation: Division of Paediatric Nephrology, Centre for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Im Neuenheimer Feld 430, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Karlheinz
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heckert
authors.affiliation: Division of Paediatric Nephrology, Centre for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Im Neuenheimer Feld 430, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vinke
authors.affiliation: Division of Paediatric Nephrology, Centre for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Im Neuenheimer Feld 430, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.affiliation: Division of Paediatric Nephrology, Centre for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Im Neuenheimer Feld 430, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. claus.peter.schmitt@med.uni-heidelberg.de.
authors.forename: Claus Peter
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Schmitt
mesh_terms: D065290:Acute-On-Chronic Liver Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000418:Albumins / Q000737:chemistry*; D000641:Ammonia / Q000378:metabolism; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D015314:Dialysis Solutions / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D011537:Pruritus / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016060:Sorption Detoxification / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D015314:Dialysis Solutions; D000641:Ammonia; D001663:Bilirubin
keywords: Albumin dialysis; Children; Cholestatic pruritus; MARS; OPAL