Study of severe hepatitis treated with a hybrid artificial liver support system.

Artificial liver support system (ALSS) has been used to treat hepatic failure and has significantly decreased the mortality. TECA hybrid artificial liver support system (TECA-HALSS), which combines the hollow fiber bioreactor with a plasma exchange circuit, was used to assess the efficacy, safety and feasibility in treating severe hepatitis patients. The hybrid artificial liver support system (HALSS) consists of a bioreactor containing more than 5 x10(9) porcine hepatocytes and plasma exchange device. Fifteen patients with severe hepatitis were treated with this hybrid system. All patients experienced a reduction in symptoms such as fatigue, abdominal distention or ascites. After each treatment serum total bilirubin decreased markedly while prothrombin activity increased. There were ten patients whose progress of hepatocyte necrosis was stopped after HALSS treatment, and finally they recovered completely. One patient received liver transplantation after HALSS therapy and survived. No serious adverse events were noted in the fifteen patients.