Temporary auxiliary liver transplantation for subacute liver failure in a child.

A 4-year-old boy with subacute liver failure due to hepatitis A virus underwent temporary auxiliary liver transplantation. The graft, an adult reduced liver, was implanted othotopically after a left hepatectomy had been carried out on the recipient's liver. Good liver function was immediately restored. The remaining native liver, which was 90% necrotic at the time of transplantation, regained normal histological features within 3 months. The auxiliary graft was then removed and immunosuppressive therapy stopped.