抄録
The development of biological and non-biological artificial liver support (ALS) therapy is reviewed. Of the various currently available nonbiological ALS, the combination of plasma exchange and hemodiafltration using high performance membranes, we originally developed, is the most effective because it can sustain patients with the severest liver failure that may be comparable to an anhepatic state. This ALS has already been adopted by 80% of major hospitals and is currently accepted as the standard method of liver support in Japan Several biological ALS systems have been developed, and some of them are clinically available. However, they must overcome major obstacles such as low biocompatibility, low durability, and compensation of only narrow liver function. Recently, a cell line which overcome most of these defects has been generated. Experimentally it can support 90% hepatectomized rats. Such cells may eventually facilitate biological liver support.
