1981 Volume 10 Issue 2 Pages 555-558
A double filtration type artificial liver support system composed of two different sized hollow fibers is being developed as the treatment of hepatic failure in our clinic.
Our previous system had been utilized successfully for animal experiments and clinical use. Bilirubin and transaminase in serum had been reduced prominently and there were no remarkable changes in the electrolytes. However, the reduction of ammonia was not enough.
Therefore we made a new system which has a noncoating activated charcoal and ammonia absorber (AMSORBA). This model worked excellently in reduction of bilirubin and ammonia. The serum ammonia decreased from 175 to 44.3μg/dl, 75%. Only problem of this system is its complicity. Further study should be done to make this system less complicated.
In brief, our artificial liver presents the realistic possibility of evolving into a specific treatment for the management of hepatic failure.
