Bionic liver will help with liver failure
Specialists of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, working under the leadership of Steven D. Colquhoun, are conducting a clinical study of a new bionic system based on human ELAD cells designed to support the liver of patients with acute liver failure.
The study conducted by the center involves patients with liver diseases, frolicking on the background of acute alcoholic hepatitis. To date, the possibilities of treating such conditions are extremely limited. In addition to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 48 other medical centers are participating in testing the system developed by Vital Therapies, most of which are located in the United States and several in Europe and Australia.
An experimental bio-art system to support the work of the liver ELAD.
The ELAD system functions as follows: the patient's blood is taken through a central venous catheter and filtered through a modular system consisting of four tubes, each of which is approximately 30 cm long. The inner surface of the tubes is lined with hepatocytes, which perform the main functions of the liver, including protein synthesis and blood purification from toxic substances and waste products. Filtered and purified blood is returned to the patient's body through a central venous catheter.
Liver failure can develop for a number of reasons, such as injuries, viral infections, overdose of medications, including those sold without a prescription, as well as alcohol abuse. In many cases, this condition is life-threatening and can lead to the death of the patient within a few days.
Experts hope that the new bio-art system is able not only to maintain the vital activity of the body for a period of time sufficient for the regeneration of its own liver, but also to stimulate the regeneration process. Moreover, it can be used to support the vital functions of patients with chronic liver failure waiting for their turn for organ transplantation.
Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center:
Researchers Testing Artificial Liver as Potential Therapy for Patients with Alcohol-Related Organ Failure.
24.09.2014